February 2009 Velocity Member
and Triad Business Events
Cathi Vogel, President
Velocity Trade Exchange, LLC is committed to doing our part to keep the Triad Economy growing strong by supporting our members, as well as the overall Triad business community by informing our readers about significant happenings in the area.   

We’ve asked for ways you’re working together with other local businesses to prosper despite an economically challenging environment. Here’s another idea:

Co-Cold Calling:   For most people, cold calling is a necessary evil; a task that fills them with dread.   Why do it alone?   If you share common prospects with a client or strategic partner, go cold calling together.   It's much more convincing when you can vouch for each other, you might learn new techniques from each other, and you're building a long lasting relationship while enjoying the camaraderie between calls.

with additional suggestions for ways we can all work together to prosper.



Velocity Trade Exchange in the news with WXII - If you missed the Friday WXII news spot about Velocity Trade Exchange, featuring a VTE Members Entree Vous and Downtown Hownds - you can see it at your convenience!   Click Here to view "Triad High Tech Barter System."   The news video begins after a brief commercial spot.

Bartering in the news...Newsday.com - provides more information and examples of how small businesses leverage trade exchanges to attract new customers and boost sales despite difficult economic times.   Click Here to view the article "Bartering Helps Build New Ties, Cash Flow"

VTE Members in the News:   Congratulations to these Velocity Members for the following milestones, awards, and recognition:
  • Amie, Betsy, and Peter Gauthier, owners of Loco for Coco Gourmet Chocolate offered a "sweet spot" to the economic news with their Fox 8 TV news coverage on January 23rd.

  • AACS Call Center celebrated their second anniversary in business with a ribbon cutting ceremony and reception conducted by the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce on February 5th at their office in The Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship.

  • Downtown Hownds also celebrated their second anniversary on February 6th.

  • Ryan Pitz, owner of New Call Solutions and Velocity Trade Exchange owner, Cathi Vogel, were both selected by the Business Leader Magazine as finalists for Entrepreneur of the Year. Finalists and winners for The Entrepreneur of the Year and Business Leader of the Year will be recognized at the upcoming 2008 Triad Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony on February 17, 2009 (see community events).   If you are planning to attend, please let us know and The Business Leader Magazine has indicated that they will seat us together.

New Members:  Since our last Newsletter, we'd like to welcome our most recent member additions. More exciting additions are in process, so stay tuned!   Please visit our Featured Members page to learn more about a few of the Velocity Members' businesses. Members interested in advertising on the VTE visitors' pages for 100% trade:   Click Here to view package rates and information.   Members wishing to have us include newsworthy announcements are welcome to - we'll do our best to include as many as we are able.


Love is in the air for Valentine's Day!   Velocity Trade Exchange has lots of great ways to save your cash while you Treat your Sweetie and show them how much they mean to you - here are a few ideas:

Enjoy a romantic dinner with Bistro Sofia or Solaris Restaurant. Don't forget to make a reservation!

Enjoy an active or relaxing evening with bowling at Gate City Lanes or a take in a show at Open Space Cafe Theatre.

Don't stay home because you can't find a babysitter!   Enjoy an evening alone while your kids have a blast at Bizi Kidz in Greensboro.

Gift ideas to please all tastes and budgets:
  • Satisfy his or her sweet tooth with treats from Loco for Coco or Sweet Temptations.

  • Unique retail gift items are available with custom gift baskets and personalized shopping services from All Wrapped Up Custom Gifts.   Valentine's balloons and other unique gift items can be found at Carolina Coffee and Tea.   Thousands of retail items covering a wide range of tastes are available through gift card purchases or special orders from Guyan River Gifts.

  • Most VTE members also offer gift certificates or gift cards, which are often ideal for those hard to buy for Valentines - from pampering to home decorating and just about everything in between.  Click Here to view a list of the products and services available through Velocity Trade Exchange or call the VTE Office at (336) 379-5066 for ideas to make your Valentine's Day.
Get creative and have fun - there are numerous ways you can use trade dollars to grow your cash business and enhance your lifestyle.   Don't forget to check out the Special Offers offered by Velocity Members!


February 2009 Velocity Member Events for your Business:
Please check out these events and workshops offered by VTE members through the duration of February that may be helpful in growing your businesses effectively.  Use trade dollars to build your business!

February 11-12, 2009 Wednesday & Thursday
The Brooks Group – Sales Management Symposium – The Brooks Group Conference Center – 3810 N. Elm Street, Greensboro – During this two day seminar, you’ll learn 100% actionable strategies designed to help you become better at hiring, training, coaching and leading your sales team to success.   Click Here for details.

February 12, 2009 – Thursday - 3:30pm
The Brooks Group – “10 Tips For Selecting The Right Salespeople” – The Sales Buzz, Powered by the Brooks Group – Employers typically hire based on the candidates' work experience.   Learn how personal skills such as work ethic, self-starting ability, results orientation, personal accountability, and resilience can be better indicators of success in sales.   This month's show will talk about strategies for learning the “true” characteristics of a potential hire, and the value of looking deeper at what they can bring to your company.   Click Here

February 18, 2009 – Wednesday 5:30pm – 7:30pm
336Events.com – 336 Triad After Work Social – McPhersons Bar and Grill – 5710 N High Point Road, Greensboro – Casual networking opportunity that is located in new and interesting Greensboro and Winston Salem locations each month.   Inexpensive and informal, these late afternoon/early evening events are ideal for meeting fellow professionals and establishing long-lasting business relationships plus a great place to socialize with coworkers and friends.   FREE.   Click Here for details.

February 21-22, 2009 – Friday & Saturday - 11:30am – 1:00pm
ActionCOACH – BusinessRICH – O. Henry Hotel, 624 Green Valley Road, Greensboro – Join ActionCOACH for this “Entrepreneur Boot Camp” where you can learn how to take your business from where you are to where you want it to be. 25% trade accepted for VTE Members. Contact Ross Cox at (336) 286-4905 for more information & reservations.

February 2009 VTE Member Events – Dining & Entertainment:
Please check out these dining and entertainment opportunities offered by VTE members for the duration of February.   Use trade dollars to enhance your lifestyle! 

February 11, 2009 – Wednesday – 7:00pm
Cupid.com – Singles Mingle Event – Solaris Restaurant, 125 Summit Avenue – All single professionals ages 21-34.   Click Here for details.

February 11, 2009 – Wednesday – 7:00pm
Cupid.com – Singles Mingle Event – Solaris Restaurant, 125 Summit Avenue – All single professionals ages 35-49.   Click Here for details.

February 11, 2009 – Wednesday – 7:00pm
Cupid.com – Singles Mingle Event – Solaris Restaurant, 125 Summit Avenue – All single professionals ages 50-65.   Click Here for details.

February 12-28, 2009
Open Space Theatre – Butterflies are Free – 4609 West Market St, Greensboro – Set in the late 60's, the play centers around Don, an aspiring musician, who has been blind since birth.   He leaves his over protective mother to make a life on his own in NY city.   His free-spirited hippie neighbor, Jill, quickly enters his loft, bed and heart.   Conflict soon arises as Don's controlling mother and Jill's self-obsessed off-off-Broadway director, Ralph, put their fragile romance to the test.   Click Here for details.

February 14, 2009 – Saturday
Carolina Coffee and Tea – Valentine Chocolate Tea – 400 State Street, Greensboro – Reservations required.   Contact Carolina Coffee and Tea at (336) 333-9557 or by   for more information and reservations.

February 25, 2009 – Wednesday – 7:00pm
Bistro Sofia – Italian Wine Dinner – 616 Dolley Madison Rd., Greensboro – 4 Courses, 5 Wines, $65.00, gratuity and sales tax not included.   Click Here for details.

February 2009
Bistro Sofia – 3 Course Prix Fixe Special – 616 Dolley Madison Rd., Greensboro – Tuesday–Thursday 5-10pm, $25.   Click Here for details.



February 2009 Triad Business Workshops & Networking Events: 
Here are additional events available throughout the duration of February that you may have an interest in.   Feel free to notify us of future events!

February 10, 2009 - Tuesday – 11:30am - 1:30pm
Winston Salem Business & Living Magazine - Make Mine a Million $ Business Race Local Competition – Piedmont Club – 200 W. Second St, 19th Floor, Winston Salem - Learn about the Make Mine a Million Program, designed to support women entrepreneurs and facilitate the success of their businesses and take part in the local competition.   Call (336) 775-9622 to register.  

February 11, 2009 – Wednesday – 8:30am – 10:00am
Greensboro Chamber of Commerce – 7 Tips for Organizing Your Finances and Adding $$$ to Your Piggybank – Greensboro Chamber, 342 N. Elm Street, Greensboro – Part of the Business Women’s Wednesdays Series, this workshop will help you learn how to add money to your piggybank during these challenging economic times, develop a spending plan for each paycheck, implement strategies for organizing your finances, and other strategies for meeting your financial goals. Presented by Velocity Member, Dorothy Merchant of Simple Solutions Professional Organizers.   View Details

February 11, 2009 — Wednesday — 3:00pm – 4:30 pm
Winston-Salem Chamber — Cold Call Clinic — WS Chamber Boardroom — 601 W. Fourth Street, Winston-Salem — This Small Business Program will help you develop and understand a new attitude about calling, especially cold calls.   Participants will become more comfortable with prospecting, setting appointments, and be more effective making sales calls in general.   Presented by Steve Rayburn of Sandler Training.   View Details

February 17, 2009 – Tuesday – 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Business Leader Magazine – 2008 Hall of Fame Awards – Embassy Suites Hotel - 204 Centreport Drive, Greensboro – Network, enjoy dinner with a guest speaker, and celebrate the achievements of the top business leaders and entrepreneurs of the Triad.   View Details

February 11, 2009 – Wednesday – 5:30pm – 8:00pm
SynerG – SynerG on Tap – Cafι Pasta, 305 State Street, Greensboro – Informal networking social event to help connect young professionals within the Greensboro community.   View Details

February 18, 2009 — Wednesday — 3:00pm – 4:30 pm
Winston-Salem Chamber – Small Business Roundtable – WS Chamber Boardroom – 601 W. Fourth Street, Winston-Salem – Join the Chamber for this monthly small business discussion where you can give and receive targeted feedback, engage in in-depth discussions, and meet colleagues with similar interests.   This month's facilitator is Jane Martin of Makin’ It Work – Pronto!   View Details

February 19, 2009 – Thursday – 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Greensboro Chamber of Commerce – Business After Hours – City View at Southside Apartments – 311 King Street, Greensboro – Grow your market share and build new relationships at this popular after-work networking event.   Bring your entire staff and plenty of business cards and turn this extraordinary networking opportunity into revenue dollars.   Registration required – FREE for Chamber members.   For more information, please contact Janeen Matherly by or by calling (336) 387-8328.   View Details

February 19, 2009 – Thursday – 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Greensboro Merchants Association – Annual Dinner – Koury Convention Center – 3121 High Point Road, Greensboro – Join the GMA for an evening of fun, entertainment, and business contacts.   The Entertainment will be provided by the nationally known comedy troupe, The Capitol Steps.   Call the GMA office at (336) 378-6350 or by for additional information or to obtain your tickets. View Details

February 24, 2009 – Tuesday – 5:30pm – 7:30 PM
Alamance Chamber of Commerce – Business After Hours – Red Bowl Asian Bistro – 3140 Walden Lane, Burlington – Join the Alamance Chamber for their February Business After Hours.   Enjoy networking, complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks.   View Details

February 24, 2009 - Tuesday - 6:00pm
Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship — How I Did It Series — Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship, 2007 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro — The speaker for this month is Judy Miller, owner / founder of RSVP Communications.   View Details

February 26, 2009 - Thursday 11:30am - 1:00pm
The Piedmont Club Finance & Economics Roundtable — The Perfect Economic Storm: Where are we going from here? – Piedmont Club — 200 W. Second St, 19th Floor, Winston Salem — Presented by Dennis Stearns, author of "CEO Road Rules: Right Focus, Right People, Right Execution."   Dennis has led and participated in national think tanks on baby boomer trends, retirement planning, global dis-equilibrium, the super trend convergence and the rise of China/India.   View Details


Cold Hard... Trade Dollars!  Would you like to earn up to $75, good towards the products / services of numerous local vendors for 3-minutes of your time?  Do you know a local business owner who is looking for creative ways to grow their business?  VTE offers referral bonuses, payable in trade dollars for successful referrals.  See below for a list of the top four industries currently in demand by our members.  Click Here for program details.
  • Direct Mail Service Providers
  • Clothing Retailers
  • Auto Detailers
  • Dental and Vision Care Providers
Velocity Trade Exchange, LLC
2007 Yanceyville St. • Box # 72  •  Suite 110  •  Greensboro, NC 27405  •  (336) 379-5066
www.VTEnc.com
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