DMA Celebrates the Holidays

Duluth Merchants Association honors Albert Marquez as Merchant of the Year at Christmas Party.

Albert Marquez was honored as the “Merchant of the Year” at the Duluth Merchants Association’s Christmas Party Dec. 4. Jim Johnson, outgoing 2012 DMA president, singled out Marquez, who has administered the DMA’s website for the past 14 years. Marquez, an adventure travel specialist, is the owner of Duluth-based Planet Earth Adventures, which arranges tours and excursions in Alaska. Al Brown, incoming DMA 2013 president, presented a plaque to Johnson in recognition of his service as president for the past year. Rayann Larsen, owner of The Work Spot where the party was held, is the new DMA vice president. Steve Eckman will become secretary. John Monk will serve as treasurer. New DMA leaders will take office in January. Musical entertainment…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (6)

DMA Briefed on Fall Festival Plans

Duluth Fall Festival Executive Committee Hosts August Duluth Merchants Association Meeting.

The Duluth Festival Center Executive Committee hosted the August Duluth Merchants Association meeting at the Festival Center and briefed local business folks on plans for the 30th anniversary event. Emcee Brooks Coleman and 2012 Duluth Fall Festival Chairman Kathryn Willis welcomed DMA President Jim Johnson and members to the Aug. 7 meeting at the Duluth Festival Center The festival gets a lot of support from local business people, Coleman said. “They buy sponsorships, set up booths and volunteer with the festival.” The 30th Anniversary Duluth Fall Festival occurs Sept. 29 and 30 on the Duluth Town Green. The festival involves 400 volunteers who serve on 50 committees and attracts an estimated 100,000 visitors to Duluth each fall. Former …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (9)

Names in the News: Jim Johnson

Profile of Duluth Merchants Association president and owner of JMS Management Consulting.

Name: Jim Johnson (James Reese Johnson)  Title/Position/Occupation: President of JMS Management Consulting specializing in improving marketing/sales processes for small businesses and serving as a unbiased outside advisor to CEOs and business owners. Sphere of Influence: President of Duluth Merchants Association, Duluth Kiwanis Club member for 25 years, Adult Sunday School class leader at Duluth First United Methodist Church, and Duluth Planning Commission member. Education/Background: BA in Business, MA in Economics from University of Nebraska. Executive Training Program at Harvard University. Recruited by and received practical training in business at two Fortune 500 companies, Allis Chalmers Corp. and White Motor Corp., where I reached …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (3)

DMA Hosts Mini Business Expo

Eight Duluth Merchants Association members showcase their businesses with table displays and five-minute presentations.

Eight Duluth Merchants Association members showcased their businesses in a Mini Expo Tuesday, April 3, at the Duluth Festival Center. The event was so successful that the DMA is considering holding a Mini Expo once each quarter to allow other members the opportunity to co-host the event and highlight their businesses. Each of the exhibitors provided a table display with information on their products and services and gave a five-minute presentation on their businesses. Their presentations were followed by 30 minutes of business networking between DMA members and visitors. Co-hosts of the Mini Expo were: AdNetworks, James Moss and Lynn Hicks Espey Financial Group, Don Kemp Minuteman Press, Steve & Vivian Eckman Positive Public Image, Bill & …

• Photos (1)

Steverino's Pizzeria Invaded by 'Cash Mob'

Steverino’s on Main Street in downtown Duluth was the site of the Duluth Merchants Association's first “Cash Mob” March 6. DMA members enjoyed pizza appetizers and sub specials while networking. Ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to Mary Roberts, director of the Hands of Christ – A Duluth Cooperative Ministry food pantry, who is starting a thrift store. According to the DMA website, cash mobs “encourage people to go into small local businesses and spend their money, en masse, to give the business owner a little bit of economic stimulus.” Steverino’s is located in a historic 130-year-old building with a patio fronting Main Street and tables facing the Duluth Town Green in the rear of the pizzeria. Samantha Martin, rear, from left, …

• Photos (1)

Rexall Grill Site of DMA February Meeting

The Duluth Merchants Association Marketing Team showed members how to use the DMA website and other resources to promote their businesses at the Feb. 7 meeting at the Rexall Grill. The team is also planning to hold a hands-on seminar at The Work Spot to help merchants learn more about the site’s features in the near future. Members enjoyed Rexall Grill customer favorites including Brunswick stew, chili, homemade vegetable soup, corn muffins, barbecue pork sliders, mini-chicken salad sandwiches, and berry cobbler. L-R: Rexall Grill owner Lynda Alley, James Moss, and DMA President Jim Johnson. Alley gave attendees each a $5 gift certificate for a return visit.

• Photos (1)

In the 'No Judgment Zone'

The emphasis was on health and fitness at the January meeting of the Duluth Merchants Association. DMA members, some in workout clothes, gathered in Planet Fitness at 3545 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Duluth Jan. 3, to tour the facility and try out the exercise equipment. Planet Fitness is offering a special membership deal through Jan. 25 of $10 down and $10 a month. Smoothie King provided samples of health drinks for DMA members to sample. Tim Simmons, manager of Sports Medicine Services for Gwinnett Medical Center-Duluth, handed out guidelines on 5K training, nutrition and hydration. Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris, l-r, and Planet Fitness Manager Keith Bryant encourage Duluth Patch Editor Faye Edmundson to exercise at least a mile on a …

• Photos (1)

DMA Brightens Up Holidays With Gift Cards

  The holidays will be a bit brighter this year due to the generosity of the Duluth Merchants Association. As part of the admission for the Dec. 6 DMA Christmas Party, members were asked to donate gift cards for grocery and discount stores to Hands of Christ – A Duluth Cooperative Ministry to distribute to needy families. Sunny Ramsay, left, outgoing DMA president, and Jim Johnson, right, incoming DMA president, hand over a basket filled with gift cards totaling nearly $300 to Mary Roberts, center, the Hands of Christ ministry director. The DMA also gave a check to Duluth Nancy Harris and Duluth City Coucilman Jim Dugan in the amount of $3,700 to cover the cost of lighting the Living Honorarium on the Duluth Town Green. The DMA raised …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

Planned PEThood Fixes 4,000 Dogs and Cats

Planned PEThood in Duluth has helped more than 4,000 families fix their pets affordably in just over a year. Offering low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, Planned PEThood has fixed 1,800 pet cats, 1,200 dogs and 1,000 feral cats since opening in September 2010. “We’re so excited to have reached this milestone, knowing how many thousands of unwanted births have been prevented. Lowering the number of accidental litters will result in fewer dogs and cats entering our overburdened shelters," said Lynette Purves, co-director of Planned PEThood of Georgia, in announcing the achievement. “Our goal is to spay and neuter over 5,000 dogs and cats in our second year of operation.” Veterinarians perform surgery Monday through Thursday by appointment and …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Espey Financial Group Hosts Low Country Boil

Espey Financial Group in Johns Creek recently hosted a Low Country Boil for its clients and others. Don Kemp, a financial representative for the company and a new member of the Duluth Merchants Association, invited DMA members to the Oct. 28 lunch, too. Kemp cooked the gumbo and the boil consisting of shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn on the cob himself. Espey is an insurance, financial planning and investment firm for individuals and business owners. It is an agency of the Guardian Life Insurance Co. Welcoming guests to the lunch are Kim Espey, l-r, Kemp (in apron), and Randal C. Espey, who founded the company in 2006.

• Photos (1)