PNA Retail Alliance Grows Business Partnerships in City of Coral Springs and Surrounding Area

Feb. 23, 2011 - PRLog -- Local retail businesses are pulling together to help each other grow their business in the City of Coral Springs.  Through Premier Networking Alliance’s newest chapter PNA Retail Alliance, retail business owners are joining their resources to double their business, and at the same time offering a helping hand to the community.  

The goal is to bring retailers together through partnership, according to Scott Brook, Founder and President of Premier Networking Alliance and former Mayor of Coral Springs.

“I think that retailers don’t have enough collaboration or a voice in our community. One of the main reasons is they run crazy hours, while others tend to work more 9 to 5, and how can they communicate with other retailers,” said Brook, who grew up in the retail business - his father owned a Carvel Ice Cream franchise in New Jersey.

Brook will combine his love for the community and connections in the business sector to bridge the gap between the retailers through monthly networking opportunities, cross marketing techniques, cross referrals, and sharing best business practices. PNA Retail Alliance will also offer exclusivity, only one retail business of its kind will be allowed, and each meeting will benefit a local charity. Their first meeting raised funds for the Festival of the Flutes.  

“Retailers can help be a voice for other retailers in the community,” said Brook, “PNA Retail Alliance has five goals. The top is to help increase their bottom line by cross marketing and cross referrals. The second is to help them advocate locally, statewide, and federally to give the proper connections with those in the group and through people I know. The third is to get more connected in the community by raising money for good causes together. The fourth is to facilitate relationships with more connections in the community. And the fifth goal is to have fun.”

Many local businesses- including the Melting Pot, Mythos Greek Taverna, Our Town News, Touch of Class Day Spa, and many others- have already jumped on board for future growth opportunities.

Nora Urquia, who has owned Touch of Class Day Spa in Coral Springs for 17 years, joined PNA Retail Alliance to get to know the owners of other businesses in the community. She also plans to give back to local charities at the same time.

“I wanted to meet the people who are doing business in our community, work on cross promotion and to make friends,” said Urquia, adding, “The economy is picking up, and I want to thank all of my clients that have stayed with me and supported my business.”

Randy Nutt, manager of the Melting Pot in Coral Springs, hopes to partner with others to help build business within the community.

“This is an advocacy group for retail businesses in Coral Springs to communicate ways to improve our city and our businesses. Besides networking, this is a real viable way to discuss how to improve the business environment in the city,” said Nutt.

The Melting Pot has always been a big supporter of local charities and will continue to reach out.

“In this type of economy, the companies that are doing things right are the ones benefiting from the turnaround. We’ve always strived to not only do things the right way for the customer but to go over and above and be of exceptional service,” said Nutt, “We have been an active member of supporting local charities. On behalf of owner Jere Cook, Chris Dicotte, and myself, we would like the community and PNA to know that we want to be one of the positive businesses in Coral Springs.”

For Zullyma Florez, the PNA Retail Alliance has helped her bring new ideas for growth to the Coral Springs Marriott.

“The first event offered feedback to help my business grow and do the same for their businesses to keep Coral Springs growing and alive,” said Florez, Executive Meeting Manager for Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel, Golf Club and Convention Center.

“Everybody is working together, not against each other,” said Florez, “I believe in Karma; the more you give, the more you receive. It is better to give and help out, and we want to be involved in getting everyone’s name out there and helping everyone to grow.”

Gil Sternbach, owner of Mythos Greek Taverna and President of Leverage Capital Resources, Inc., which offers consulting and advisory services to corporate clients, says PNA offers member entrepreneurs and businesses the opportunity to meet and network with potential clients, vendors and business partners.  

“Mythos became a founding member of PNA Retail because of our commitment to fostering cooperation, growth and business development opportunities for businesses that interact with each other on a B-to-B level, as well as directly with the consumer,” said Sternbach.  

“PNA provides entrepreneurs, professionals and businesses with exposure to prospective clients, vendors and business partners by facilitating networking opportunities, as well as credible referrals.  There are two fundamental aspects to PNA– growth and development of each member’s business interests and facilitating a meaningful contribution to the local community, as well as other national and international needs-based organizations,” said Sternbach, adding, “While Mythos is grateful for the business from dining guests, we make our banquet facilities available for a plethora of business purposes. In particular, we applaud the support that we get from PNA in our involvement with charitable causes and eagerly participate in PNA’s community-based fundraising programs.”

Sternbach believes small businesses will likely make the largest contribution to the recovery by hiring more people to accommodate the growth and resurgence of their respective enterprises.

Neal Bira, Founder of the Organ Donor Awareness Foundation, also hopes to get local retailers involved in raising money for local charities and shopping Coral Springs. The Organ Donor Awareness Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Bira, a heart transplant patient, with the goals of increasing organ donor awareness and to raise money for education, life’s necessities and provide professional support for the children and families of organ donor heroes.  

John Brodie, head of Sales for Our Town News commented, "The OTN mission is to be an ever growing force in supporting the local community and contributing to the success of local businesses.  As the community thrives so do we.  The PNA Retail Alliance is a great vehicle to support business growth and prosperity and we are very glad to have the opportunity to be a part of this organization."

For more information on PNA Retail Alliance, contact Scott Brook at 954-494-9872 or Tasha Hirsch at tasha@pnanetwork.com.

OUR TOWN NEWS is the local area's most popular community news magazine with a history of over fifteen years of serving South Florida readers and businesses.  The weekly, full color magazine and the OTN "Great Deals" coupon book are distributed via U.S. Mail to over 50,000 homes and businesses in Parkland and Coral Springs.  Several thousand additional copies are hand delivered weekly to numerous businesses and offices throughout Coral Springs, Parkland, Coconut Creek, Tamarac, Pompano Beach, Boca Raton and Margate, Florida.  OTN’s continuing commitment is to be an ever growing force in supporting the local community and contributing to the success of our advertising partners.  

Office: (954) 344-5156
Fax:  (954) 344-0107
Voice Mail: (954) 284-4507
email: jb@theourtownnews.com
website:  www.TheOurTownNews.com
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OUR TOWN NEWS is the local area's most popular weekly community news magazine with a history of over fifteen years of serving South Florida readers and businesses. The magazine is distributed via U.S. Mail to over 50,000 homes and businesses each month.