The Northern Kane County Chamber services the Northern Fox Valley towns of Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee, Gilberts and Sleepy Hollow. Even though this chamber of commerce has a smaller membership than most chambers, they are large in value and scope in what they offer their members. Often times a business owner can get lost in the larger chambers. Since business is about building your network and relationships, participating in a smaller chamber organization could have its benefits.
NKCC Fest on the Fox
Besides the average membership benefits that the Northern Kane County Chamber, or NKCC, offers they have multiple events and networking groups to be a part of. Every Tuesday and Wednesday two powerful networking groups meet to exchange referrals, learn and socialize. In the past, Severity Design has been a part of one of these groups and found them to be a great source of support and referrals. In addition to referral groups, NKCC offers many after hours networking events, golf outings and business expos throughout the year. One of the highlights of the year is the NKCC Fest on the Fox. On Saturday July 16th the chamber sponsors a day on the Fox River enjoying music, food and children’s activities. Other events include Women in Business group, Multi-chamber progressive lunches and others.
Severity Design services the web design needs of those small businesses in the Northern Kane County area. We have been able to provide web marketing services for companies big or small in the surrounding towns. Sometimes these businesses need a brochure website to direct current clients to, other times they might need to integrate an e-commerce solution that sells their products online. Whatever it is, we are here to help! We appreciate and find value in all chamber of commerce organizations, especially the NKCC for the services, support and resources they provide for small businesses in Illinois.
If you or someone you know might benefit from a free website review, please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us by phone at 630-415-4054. We offer complimentary website reviews and consultation services for businesses looking to grow and get the most out of their website.
Nestled deep on the 3rd floor of 73 S. Riverside Dr. in downtown Elgin is a tech hub little know about in the Northwest Suburbs. The Elgin Technology Center is a co-working space for entrepreneurs come to launch, grow and evolve their business. The Elgin Tech Center, or ETC, is not new to the area. Before re-locating to 73 S. Riverside Dr, the ETC was housed in the inconic Elgin Tower on the 2nd floor. Historically, the ETC was started as a place where tech businesses would be drawn to Elgin.
Elgin has a history of innovation. The Elgin National Watch Company was located in downtown Elgin where the current Butera market is located. The company was first incorporated in August 1864 as the National Watch Company, in Chicago, Illinois. The company produced many of the self-winding wristwatch movements made in the United States beginning with the 607 and 618 calibers (which were bumper wind) and the calibers 760 and 761 (30 and 27 jewels respectively).
The Elgin Technology Center also housed the cities state robotics champs Got Robot? They are the three time Illinois FTC Champions (2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2014-2015) and one of four 2015 World Championship Inspire Award Finalists.
The Elgin Technology Center offers different pricing for different levels of membership. Their packages range from regular monthly memberships to available private office spaces. The center has 27/7 access with coffee, kitchen, projector, whiteboards and conference room amenities. When small businesses are needing to get out of the home office, basement or coffee shop, the ETC provides desks with a quite place to work along with a community of other start up businesses that collaborate to help each other grow. There is accessable parking nearby and its walking distance from public transportation.
Severity Design has utilized the resources that the Elgin Technology Center has to offer for the past 4 years. We have our office space located here and often will meet our clients for consultations or networking opportunities. We also have enjoyed building our network of clients through the connections we have made being a part of the ETC. We look forward to helping other business get started online in the future.
If you or someone you know might be interested in a free website review, please don’t hesitate to contact us today! Call 630-415-4054 or reach out to us by email at the link below!
The Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce provides a extensive menu of events, workshops and programs to get involved in as a local small business owner. The Elgin Chamber offers anything from business referral groups to workshops and guest speakers which makes this organization a valuable asset to the City of Elgin.
Local chambers are places where you can make connections and gain insight and information about doing business in a particular region. The EAC also houses the Elgin Development Group which exists as a dedicated department of the Elgin Chamber to attract new businesses to Elgin. There are extensive resources available to new and existing businesses that will come in handy when deciding to serve the Elgin area market. The Elgin Development Group provides database access that will show market values, data and statistics that will help you determine if the Elgin is right for you. The Chamber may also provide you with real estate openings and guide you in prospective location availability for your store front or office space.
Two world class programs the Chamber offers are the Elgin Area Leadership Academy and the Elgin Area Small Business Academy. Both programs are a monthly cohort that is launched to develop volunteers, entrepreneurs and small business startups. Members participate in monthly sessions that center around a topic about leadership or business. Besides the information that is presented, participants build their network and create partnerships in the academy that last a lifetime.
Being a part of a local chamber allows your business to establish trust and credibility within the community. There are often opportunities to volunteer, speak at engagements and workshops that can expand and expose your business to members in and out of the chamber. Elgin’s Chamber is especially a big one, so just paying a membership fee will not allow you to reap the benefits. Being a part of a local chamber requires that you get involved in some capacity to make the most of your membership.
Severity Design has been involved with the chamber both directly and indirectly over the past several years. Overall, it has been a great experience for us to meet other business owners and get to know the small business climate in our area. We also volunteer with the Small Business Academy, helping other businesses get started and coach them in their website design and marketing. Outside of the chamber, we have been able to help several with website and marketing from small to big.
If you, or someone you know, would be interested in getting more information about the Elgin Area Chamber or interested in a free marketing consultation, please don’t hesitate to call us at 630-415-4054. We are here to help you get the buzz you’re looking for about your products or services. A professionally built website is the key to helping generate new customers and keeping them interested. Let us show you how!
Looking for a reliable website designer in the Geneva, St. Charles and Batavia area?
Look no further. Severity Design is a web design studio located in proximity to the Northwest/Western suburbs that exists to assist small businesses with getting their business online. We provide website services, search engine optimization and social media management for businesses that either are just getting started or have an existing website that needs updating. Did your old web designer disappear without a trace? Not happy with the service you’re receiving from your current web monkey? We get these comments all the time from dissatisfied customers who have spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars without getting much in return.
Elgin, IL – Locally owned Severity Design is helping small businesses get online for the fraction of the cost most web design firms charge, says Rusty Wimberly, owner of Severity Design. Rusty earned his bachelors degree from Judson University and went back to school at Elgin Community College for his vocational certification in Web Design in 2009. At the same time, he launched Severity Design as a freelance, website design company out of his home to service the needs of small businesses in the Fox Valley region. Interning for two local website companies, Rusty realized the need for sm
all businesses to have a clean, professional looking web presence, but he also was made aware of the absorbent fees local web firms charge unknowing customers. “The web designer of today is comparable to the car mechanic or used car salesman”, says Rusty. Many owners just don’t have the knowledge, skill or time to spend tinkering around with their business website.”
With this understanding, Severity Design offers affordable web design and internet marketing packages to its customers. The process is simple. After an initial consultation, a home page mock up design is developed. Upon approval, the rest of the pages are built out. Once everything is complete, the website is looked over for a final inspection and, upon approval, launched live to the public.
All Severity Design websites are built in a CMS (Content Management System) called WordPress. This allows for speedy development, custom theming of the website and the owner to manage and update the website themselves. If the owners don’t have time to manage the site themselves, Severity Design offers a monthly maintenance package that allows for up to 1 hour of maintenance per month for updates.
Severity Design recently rolled out its new SEO “iMarketing” package and social meda “iSocial” package as of June 1st, 2013.
Passion for Entrepreneurship
Rusty has spent most of his career in sales. After being laid off of his job, Rusty discovered the possibilities of starting his own company. Since launching Severity Design in 2009, Rusty has enjoyed the ups and downs of learning to run a business from top to bottom. “There is no greater feeling I have than sitting down with another business owner discussing the marketing challenges they face and helping them overcome those obstacles.” One such company is local plumbing company called HD Plumbing. HD Plumbing came to Severity Design with an old, forgotten about webpage. Severity Design was able to transform their page into a professional, attractive website that customers find them and contact them on.
Severity Design will uphold its promise to support local small businesses and the local economy. In addition to running his company, Rusty is also on the board of directors for the Elgin Technology Center. The mission of the Elgin Technology Center is to bring tech businesses to Elgin, foster a collaborative working environment and help with business development. This is just another arena for Severity Design to help make a positive impact for the business environment.