2020 WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce this year’s Best of Beverly Hills Golden Palm Awards Honorees. The Chamber is fortunate to lead a world-class community of the most unique and innovative businesses. Each year, we celebrate the amazing business community and honor exceptional winners. The awards selection process was challenging with so many deserving entries, and the winners had to be truly remarkable in order to earn the most votes. With stiff competition, success is always sweeter.

Congratulations to the 2020 honorees and we look forward to celebrating during the Beverly Hills Back to Business | Fall Virtual Collaborative on October 21, 2020!

Fred Hayman Visionary Award Honoree

An individual(s) or business who has brought their unique vision of Beverly Hills to life by positively uplifting, supporting, and influencing the business and residential communities and beyond.

Mr. John Bendheim

John Bendheim is a staple in the community of Beverly Hills, both personally and professionally. His contributions both financially as well as advisory positions, have been instrumental in leading this community forward for many years and he continues to do so. Bendheim’s passion for the Beverly Hills Community, both residential and business, was self evident when deciding to take ownership of the The Beverly Hills Courier to ensure honest and in-depth coverage of our community with the hope of uniting our community. The successful transition of taking the paper into the future with digital content is instrumental in catapulting our community into the future. Bendheim has been an active and engaged member of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for many years, supporting in roles as a longstanding member of the Chamber as well as past Chairman of the Board. He is a revered business man with many true visionary development projects under his belt. His guidance and expertise in the business world has been invaluable resource for the Beverly Hills Chamber’s success. He is admired by many and is a true visionary who works tirelessly to make sure that Beverly Hills not only stays relevant but maintains its role as a leader on the global stage.

Above & Beyond Award Honorees

Businesses who lead by example by going above and beyond in their business practices and while contributing to causes supporting the Beverly Hills and surrounding communities.

Cedars-Sinai Health System

Cedars-Sinai Health System has been a force in the Beverly Hills and greater Los Angeles community, especially since the pandemic outbreak. They have been great leaders in fighting the COVID-19 virus and dealing with the hospitalizations of patients with it. In addition to providing incredible community support, they have participated and supported the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce for a number of years. Cedars-Sinai Vice President, Government & Industry Relations Deborah Kallick is on the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, served at the 2019-2020 Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and is heavily involved with the Chamber on behalf of Cedars. In addition to these efforts, Cedas-Sinai sponsors the Chamber’s Health & Wellness committee. To reach more about Cedars-Sinai Health System, click here.

Meraki Fitness (Small Business)

Meraki Fitness Owner Anna Stavaridis immediately pivoted at the beginning of the pandemic by converting her services to a virtual environment, welcoming existing and new Chamber and community members. While balancing a wide dimension of impacts from the mandated quarantine, Anna immediately provided online services to adapt to our new world, adopting technology with ease, and guiding others to shift their businesses as well. During quarantine, Anna also hosted Instagram Live videos three days a week in a three month series, showcasing different types of influential people in the community. By doing this, Anna connected small businesses and their owners with a larger audience and educated the community on a more holistic mind/body approach to self-care and wellness. Anna has provided a complimentary and continuous series of physical, mental, and financial health webinars educating the community with a full spectrum of wellness professionals. In her weekly newsletter, she celebrated guest contributors and promoted a small business of the week. Anna held free strength training and senior fitness classes as well for the community to help build a stronger self and connect others. She serves as an indispensable Ambassador of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, and Chair of the Chamber’s Young Professionals Network and Membership Committees.  Anna is also a member of the Chamber Health & Wellness Committee and Beverly Hills Kindness Task Force. Meraki Fitness’ services include concierge personal training, corporate wellness, senior fitness, and strategic partnerships with medical professionals to enhance their client’s experiences. Their elite team of wellness professionals come to you online or in person with proper health considerations. To learn more about Meraki Fitness, click here.

Innovation Award Honorees

Businesses who excel in having created and implemented an original idea, which demonstrates marketplace success and practical development.

Spago Beverly Hills

When in house dining reopened and then quickly pivoted again to only outdoor dining, Spago Beverly Hills had already arranged to be one of the first dining establishments to utilize Open BH. They applied for both a dining permit and liquor license immediately and were able to utilize the stunning art mural wall that was erected to help mitigate some of the Metro construction issues as well as the streetscape. In addition to these efforts, they have been extremely careful regarding mandates with their staff (testing regularly) and guests regarding safe distancing, masks wearing, sanitizing ensuring the utmost safety for all. They have kept up their support of various charities, serving on the business recovery task force and other city concerns such as Metro and adding art to the BH streetscape. They take pride in serving our community of visionaries, dedicated hard workers and we love our beautiful city and all of our citizens. To learn more about Spago Beverly Hills, click here.

UMBERTO (Small Business)

UMBERTO Beverly Hills, a 12,000 square foot salon, home to 20 cutting, styling and coloring chairs – (offering color, highlights, balayage and keratin treatments) seven nail stations that offer gel, nail art, manicures and pedicures, has transformed its parking lot into a luxury outdoor salon. The “Open Air Salon” has a vacation vibe with music filling the air. The space is covered by white sails, white mirrors and pots of white roses throughout the space. The asphalt has been painted light and dark gray stripes to give it a carpet-like feel. The idea was practical only if they could overcome the obstacle of being able to offer color services which included having proper drainage, hot and cold running water and electricity. As business and property owners they thought it was important to do their part to contribute to bringing people back into the city and to see it thrive again. To reach more about UMBERTO, click here.

The Chamber is thrilled to recognize the 2020 Best of Beverly Hills Golden Palm Awards honorees during the Beverly Hills Back to Business | Fall Virtual Collaborative on October 21. Join us in celebration!  Click here for complimentary registration | Click here to learn more about the event

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Background

Jonathan Durante is Deputy Regional Managing Director for the Greater Los Angeles Region of First Republic Bank, one of the Top-Rated Private Banks in the country. With 16+ years of Banking experience, Jonathan focuses on the complex needs of his clients on a daily basis. He utilizes personalized, high-touch service in order to address the full scope of an individual’s balance sheet. In addition to his experience in banking, Jonathan holds 10 years of experience with the Chamber of Commerce and volunteers his time teaching financial literacy to at-risk youth and income challenged families.

Vision

Following in the footsteps of 2019-2020 Chairwoman Deborah Kallick, Jonathan sets high goals to be accomplished by the Chamber in the time of his term. Under Deborah’s leadership, the Chamber experienced a record setting year in terms of growth and membership engagement. Jonathan believes the Chamber can continue to expand and grow even during this time. “If there was one city, one organization I would put my money on to emerge from these trying times in spectacular fashion, it’s Beverly Hills and its Chamber of Commerce”, says Jonathan. He sees this time as an opportunity to refocus our priorities and continue to serve and provide content for our members. As we have always done, we are innovating and adapting to new ways of connecting with our members and supplying access to everything Beverly Hills has to offer.

View the full induction speech below.

Please join us on October 21 for the next Virtual Collaborative! More information can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/bhbtboct2020

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The uncertainty of live events in 2020 is completely up in the air as it’s impossible to speculate when this pandemic will be over, as well as, when people will feel comfortable attending an event with a large group of people.

Virtual events can alleviate that uncertainty.

I’m a firm believer in live events, however, virtual events with some creativity and planning can be just as engaging as a live event.

The below blog post provides information for you to gauge on whether a virtual event could work as a temporary replacement for a live event (or keep it virtual or make it a hybrid).

Questions to Answer About Going Virtual

• Does your audience have the ability and/or desire to engage in a virtual conference? 
• Do you want attendees to just view or will they participate (i.e. ask questions, take polls, etc.)?
• Do you want the event to be live, pre-recorded or a mix of both?
• Will it be a revenue generator or a freebie?
• What will be the program?
  • Single speaker with live Q&A
  • Multiple speakers with breakout sessions
  • Multiple tracks of learning (i.e. marketing track, sales track, operations track, etc.) where an attendee would follow one track that would provide multiple speakers and breakout sessions

*Don’t just string together a bunch of webinars and call it a day.  That will not provide the engagement your attendees seek.

Virtual Event Options Available

Virtual Events can be jaw-dropping.  Full buildouts of what looks like a convention center with trade booths lining the walls and people walking around.  It’s amazing what developers have done.

Below are some options available, keep in mind the more intricate the more it may cost.

• Live Webinars
• Breakout sessions
• Virtual Lobbies
• Virtual Trade Show:  Each booth can include a video presentation, downloads, live chats with attendees, direct messaging and feeds to their social media accounts.
• Real time chat tools with attendees to make it a 2-way conversation
• One-on-one networking
• Different ticket levels that provide specific event access
• Create live chats with presenters
• Poll attendees
• Share information in the form of videos, documents, and presentations 
• Download post event reports to learn what worked, didn’t work and how to improve for future events. These detailed reports can provide the data for attendee engagement and sponsor ROI.

The Process to Planning a Virtual Event

Set Goals. When companies set goals, they achieve far more than when they don’t.  First you need to decide your overall vision for the event (including programming) and what the User Experience (UX) will be from the moment they register to post event communication.  Then mesh that vision with goals and metrics that help to maximize the exposure your virtual event will have on the target attendee. Below are some examples (don’t chose multiple goals, decide on one and make it happen).

• We will set a goal of 500 attendees
• We will acquire 200 new email subscribers
• We will complete 100 complimentary consultations during the event
• We will set 10 appointments with new clients by 2 weeks after event

Create a Budget.  Setting a budget is crucial to the financial success of an event.  By just stating a number (whether that’s gross revenue or net profit) doesn’t mean you will achieve it if you don’t define all of the line items involved.

Revenue:

• Ticket Sales.  There can be different levels that receive different access, plus you will be tapping into attendees that would not be able to attend otherwise.
• Exhibitor Sales.  This is self-explanatory.
• Sponsorship.  One of the biggest concerns regarding revenue for virtual events is whether corporate sponsorship can stay the same levels as they were for a live event. You can argue both sides of this, but the great thing about this is at the end of event you will have the data from reports to back up the ROI.

Expenses (** denotes expenses for creating the stage setup yourself):

• Audio Equipment. This cost ranges from $35 for a headset up to $100+ for a lavalier microphone. **
• Cameras. To provide the video range from $200 – $10,000+ depending on how high quality you want to go (or just use your computer).  **
• Lighting. This cost ranges from $45 for a small ring light up to $150+ for stage lighting.  **
• Marketing.  This could be done for free using your email list and social media posts, or you could spend $50 – $5,000+ on digital ads.  Also, you can create a lot of graphics on your own for free on Canva.com (my all-time favorite platform).
• Speaker Fees. This fee is dependent on the speaker’s credibility, follower count and their popularity.  They could do it for free or cost $20,000+.
• Staging/Background.  A backdrop could just be a wall or you could purchase a screen (of varying colors) and the frame to hold it up for $100+ depending on size.  NOTE: keep the height of person in mind when picking the size of the screen (unless they are seated then it won’t matter). **
• Video Conference Platforms.  The pricing is usually based on how many participants, how many meetings/conferences you will hold and how much cloud storage is needed.  Monthly rates start at $15 on up past $100 per month.

IMPORTANT: Do not base your decision to hire a vendor purely on price, get references and check online ratings. I’m sure you’ve heard the term “you get what you pay for” it’s not something you want to learn during a stressful event, especially if it’s the first time you’re doing it.

Finding the Right Vendors. Thankfully you will not need as many vendors as a live event, it mainly comes down to just a handful (not too many balls to juggle).

Audio Visual (A/V) equipment companies can help with the audio equipment, lighting, camera/computer and staging.  Please ask their advice on what equipment would work best for your event vision AND give them the budget upfront. For the most part A/V companies can work with most budgets.  However, if your budget is $200 for a full setup, they probably won’t be able to work with that.

Online Platforms (the companies referenced below are for your convenience and not an endorsement)

• Bizzabo 
• CommPartners
• Hopin
• Vfairs 
• Whova

Marketing for a Virtual Event. The same platforms to promote a live event direct emails to your list, social media posts, posting on online calendars and advertising with digital ads on relevant sites work well.

But the most important part is what content you should share.  The goal is to entice ticket sales and/or social media sharing.  Below is a good list of content to post:

• Previous video interviews with scheduled speakers
• Relevant industry info:  blog posts, white-papers, eBooks
• Downloadable offers
• Event updates (new speakers, flash sales for tickets, conversations on social media groups)

Create a hashtag for your event, it serves two purposes to push the word out as well as a location for attendees to submit questions before or during a talk from a speaker.

Event Preparations. There is a lot of preparation that goes into a successful virtual event.  It would be great if you just hired the online platform and they handled it all from there, but that’s not reality.  Below are some tips to get ready for day of event.

Event Website.  A virtual conference website, depending on the complexities, could take 1-2 weeks to set up. This means writing the copy, creating the graphics, setting up the branding, designing booths (if applicable), uploading content and scheduling webinars. Major customizations can take more time.

Presenter’s A/V.  Once securing each presenter, find out their audio and visual capabilities, as well as, the strength of their wi-fi connection.  Ideally, they will have a similar setup to keep a consistent look for the event AND you don’t want them dropping the connection during their presentation due to weak wi-fi.

Presenter Prep.  Even with live events, it’s necessary to have a conversation with presenters on their talking points to make sure that they are touching on the important topics your attendees are expecting to hear.  Also, ask them how you can support them in the event to make their presentation more engaging.

Rehearsals.  Schedule a rehearsal with each of your presenters and test attendees.  Work on the polling and chat sessions to make sure your presenter is comfortable with the screen controls and function of the presentation.

Presenter Problems.  Create a plan (and rehearse it) for any problems that may arise if a presenter loses connection, is running late, or cancels last minute.

Attendee Tutorial.  Create a tutorial on the event website and send via email, explaining how to join webinars, ask questions, join networking and breakout sessions.  The tutorial could be a quick video showing screenshots or simple text with imagery.

Customer Support During Event.  It’s important to have a person designated to provide support/help to attendees during the event.  This can be via email, phone or web chat. If you don’t have a staff person or it’s not available with the online platform you choose, consider outsourcing a staff member from an agency or online staffing platform.

Reminders.  Reminders are incredibly important for virtual events, it’s very easy to receive a reminder and forget to login because something comes up.  Send out reminders the day before, 1-hour before, and 10-minutes before the event starts.

Post Event Action Items. Now that the event has concluded, it’s time to thank the appropriate people and get the data.

Thank You’s.  Send out a thank you email within a day of event closing.  Make sure to include sponsor logos (with hyperlinks if possible), presenter decks (if approved) and event survey.

Run the Reports.  The best thing about virtual events, is the online platform is extracting data during the whole process.  Measuring the ROI is simplified and sending that data to sponsors is so much easier.

* If possible, encourage attendees to keep the conversation alive in the social media groups.  This can help with furthering your attendee engagement and possibly help to recruit attendees for future events.

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Hopefully this post has provided you the information to move forward (if appropriate) with a virtual conference.

Also, over the past 6-8 years many events have moved and stayed online, something to consider for the future. Another option is a hybrid event – virtual and live (i.e. pre-event and post event stays virtual to start and keep the conversation going with a live event).

To provide any comments for the author, leave them here. For more information about Kim Ruggles Events, click here. 

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While this may seem like a daunting task, we have a few suggestions that will help make the process easier.

Step 1: Picking the Right Theme

While it’s hard to please everyone, an immersive experience will go a long way to create the right atmosphere for all attendees. A versatile theme will give you more opportunities to create various types  of experiences that will appease many tastes and preferences.

Here are two options that offer a range of entertainment options and activations that allow for customization and branding, even if that brand is just yourself.

Casino Theme – Vegas showgirls, acrobatic aerialists, and model tray girls set the scene. Blackjack, roulette and craps tables provide more hands-on fun for the attendees. Décor options can range from the over the top and opulent razzle-dazzle of the modern-day strip to a more Rat Pack vintage throwback. And raffled prizes instead of cash betting ensure the stakes are still high enough to offer everyone an entertaining experience.

Roaring 20’s – What better way to celebrate the kickoff of the 20’s than with an homage to a time of prosperity, opulence and boundless entertainment. From flapper girls to the start of the Jazz Age, the 1920’s offer an abundance of inspiration for how to throw a great party. Set the mood with art deco invitations and appropriate cocktail attire. Prep the bar to make a few essential classic cocktails. Add a swinging jazz band and pepper in impersonators, roaming feather girls, and professional photographers decked out in 1920’s gear.

Step 2: Deciding How Much Entertainment You Need

As a rule of thumb, we recommend starting with at least three to four different acts throughout the evening. These will ensure that guests are continuously engaged without a lull to the celebrations.

Remember, these don’t need to all be over the top.  There should be one or two distinct showstoppers while the rest seamlessly mix with the general party atmosphere.

Roaming characters are a subtle way to pepper in some special moments which the guests can enjoy at their own pace. These can include stilt walkers, costumed ballerinas, go-go dancers as well as face paint and photo booths. Larger, show-stopping performances include aerialists, choreographed dance numbers, cyr wheel performers, and immersive activations like our signature Snow White awakening ceremony. When it comes to branding, we recommend staging branded items within the photo booth pop up or as part of our roaming characters display.

Step 3: Deciding on the music

Everyone knows that music is essential to any good party. If your budget allows it, a good DJ that can read the crowd and curate the perfect soundtrack for the night is an essential part of the evening’s entertainment. But your options don’t stop there. For budding tastemakers, create your own Spotify playlist and allocate your music budget to a live performance. What that entails should depend on your overall theme.

Of course, if you’re going all out – there’s nothing quite like pairing a DJ set with a musical act like a saxophone player or a drummer to really get the party going.

For more ideas or to book entertainment through ACE, visit: artistscreatingentertainment.com

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With consumers’ increasing focus on sustainability, social sharing, and experiences rather than things, the rental model is the hero fashion has been waiting for. The success of this model stems from its impressive ability to solve the numerous problems facing today’s major retailers and their consumers. With early trailblazers, like Rent The Runway, the shift seen in the retail and eCommerce landscape is apparent and is beckoning other major players to join the rental movement.

Several key launches by large brands in the rental space this year have served as a call-to-action for anyone in the apparel industry.

URBN, inc. (the company that owns Free People, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Terrain..) launched their whimsical, fun, and inexpensive rental business called Nuuly this summer, carrying brands like For Love and Lemons, Lisa Says Gah!, and Loveshack Fancy to name a few. Even fast-fashion brands, like Express, are finding space in the rental model. Other major players include American Eagle with AE Style Drop, Rebecca Taylor with Rebecca Taylor Rrntd, and Bloomingdales with My List at Bloomingdales.

The US apparel rental market is projected to reach 2.2 billion by 2022. CaaStles CEO, Christine Hunsicker, says that retailers offering rental subscriptions can generate operating margins of 25 percent, which fairs well in comparison to the profitability of the mid-market fashion sector. Not only is there an opportunity to maintain a healthy margin, but there’s a subscription model in place that keeps customers in a way that traditional retail and eCommerce models don’t.

For the consumer, the subscription aspect of a brand in the rental space is a welcomed feature. Whereas, in traditional eCommerce, it may feel like, “Do I really need 5 new pairs of underwear every month?” By the time the monthly rental period comes to a close, the customer is ready to refresh their closet and try something new. The new subscription period is an exciting opportunity to experiment with new trends and refresh your wardrobe.

In a time where social media reigns, it is important to recognize the role it plays in our behaviors. Even more so, it’s contribution to what we buy. A new outfit for every post is the standard and many brands are feeling the weight of that. The “Nicks,” people who repeatedly buy and return items after wearing them, are creating a dilemma for in-store and online customer service reps. Reps increasingly face the struggle of wanting to create good customer experiences while also having to fight loss prevention guidelines and return policy abuse.

The rental model allows customers to wear a new outfit for every social post and enables retailers to limit the “Nick” behavior. Beyond that, the rental model creates an exciting opportunity to wear new, expensive clothes every month for a low cost. It’s a win-win, situation.

It’s really no secret that fast fashion’s moment is coming to an end. The bankruptcy of Forever 21, Topshop US, Charlotte Russe, and several other retailers have given rise to this new era, Generation Rent. Consumers are moving toward brands that listen, have a voice, move with their customers, and are conscious.

The brands that are making this rental pivot are clearly doing well. Apart from joining the rental bandwagon, these brands are succeeding in eCommerce and brick-and-mortar without it. This is a big deal. These brands are making the move and they don’t have to.

For more information, visit the Absolute Web website here.

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The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce rang in Lunar New Year with true Beverly Hills flair as attendees were dazzled by traditional Asian cultural performances, musical stylings reminiscent of the Rat Pack, and bites and beverages from Beverly Hills’ finest establishments and crowd favorites. It was an unforgettable night characterized by its vibrant décor and stunning Rolls-Royce displays.

The Lunar New Year: Year of the Rat Celebration Presented and Hosted by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars of Beverly Hills at O’Gara Coach buzzed with cheer and festivities on Friday, February 7, as this exclusive, invitation-only celebration welcomed over 500 guests. Produced by the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce Asian Business Connection Committee, led by Chairwoman Vicky Mense, the evening was an elegant and entertaining reception with a guest list of high net worth professionals, celebrities, entrepreneurs, local and regional government officials, and community influencers. Some of these include: Mayor of Beverly Hills John Mirisch, Beverly Hills City Councilmembers Dr. Julian Gold and the honorable Lili Bosse, as well as dozens of Beverly Hills business owners and influencers.

Guests were delighted by cuisine from local favorites including Xi’an Restaurant, Il Fornaio, Crustacean Beverly Hills, Kazan, The Grill on the Alley, Asombroso Tequila, buzzbox premium cocktails, Morandell Imports, Vervet Cocktails, Tsingtao, Courvoisier, and Icelandic Glacial.

The spectacular stage entertainment kept guests enthralled with many phenomenal performances. Traditional dances by the American Chinese Culture Association enchanted guests as they performed stories of childhood and passion. Also taking the stage, the Cufflink Crooners, who kicked off the night with some Year of the Rat-Pack sound, showcasing their great humor and harmonic melodies on stage. As guests moved throughout the venue, some visited the trips of a lifetime silent auction by AmFund and others participated in a themed photobooth experience produced by Photohive.

As one of the Chamber’s favorite events to produce, we’d like to say thank you to all Chairman’s Circle Members for their continued support of the Chamber and to all of those in attendance for celebrating the Year of the Rat with us. Special thank you to all of the businesses and individuals who helped make this incredible night possible: Presenting and Host Sponsor Rolls-Royce Motor Cars of Beverly Hills at O’Gara Coach; Production and Entertainment Curation by Entertainment Plus Productions and Honeysweet Creative; Silver Sponsors East West Bank and etco HOMES, Inc; Bronze Sponsors MCE Checkin and Philip Macias; Production Sponsors Matrix Visual, Daylight Event Lighting, Buzzhive Productions, Town & Country Event Rentals, Grand Eclair, and Star Power.

To our Asian Business Connection Committee, and especially Chairwoman Vicky Mense, thank you for all of your hard work: Douglas Johnson, Erick Weiss, Llewyn Jobe, Jessica Moerbe, Rhys Edwards, Nacole Gray, Lia Avanessian, Milica Stamenich, Cece Tsou, and Ariana Escalante.

To view the official event photography shot by DVR Productions, click here. For more information about the 2020 Lunar New Year: Year of the Rat Celebration, click here. We look forward to celebrating the Year of the Ox with you in early 2021!

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For those who’d like something fully savory before, Mari Los Angeles will offer a special prix-fixe Valentine’s Day dinner and wine pairing with a shared appetizer, individual entrees and shared dessert. Menu highlights include Red Wine Poached Pear Salad, Branzino and Chocolate Hazelnut Marjolaine. Dinner pricing is $140 per couple / $200 per couple with wine pairing.

Looking to make it an overnight experience? Book the Treat Your Sweet Package, which includes two Sweet Suite tickets, romantic accommodations in an Executive Suite, breakfast for two and a champagne welcome. The package starts at $425 + tax per night, is available for arrivals on Friday, February 14 or Saturday, February 15 only. Reservations must be made by Wednesday, February 12 and need to be booked with the property directly by calling 310-284-6511.

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Did you receive a notice for the new and mandatory soft-story retrofit program in Beverly Hills? Has your apartment building been flagged yet? Well, if you have an older wood-frame apartment or condominium building that obtained a permit for construction prior to 1978 and has carports or tuck-under-parking using the ground floor of your structure as an open parking area, then you might be getting your notice soon. The City of Beverly Hills has adopted a mandatory retrofit ordinance for earthquake safety “to help protect people and minimize damage of vulnerable buildings in the event of a major earthquake.”

But no need to fear, Retrofit1 is here! Retrofit1 completes all retrofitting steps to bring your building up to code and obtain your Certificate of Compliance with the city.

Here are some samples of a Beverly Hills soft story building:

Ordinance No. 18-O-2767 was adopted at a formal City Council meeting on December 11, 2018. It became effective on January 11, 2019. The first set of notices for buildings flagged as Tier-I were sent out in July 2019. The next tiers are tentatively set to be sent out in 2020.

The criteria used is as follows:

• A permit for construction of a new building was applied for before January 1, 1978, or if no permit can be located, the structure is determined by the City Building Official to have been built under building code standards enacted prior to January 1, 1978
• The ground floor or basement portion of the structure contains parking or other similar open floor space that causes soft, weak, or open-front wall lines and there exists one or more stories above.

Retrofit1 completes all retrofit items required for your deadlines. After receiving your letter and notice to comply date (typically the date the notice is served), you have:

• 6 months to submit the Screening Report (done by an Engineer or Architect)
• 1 year to submit Retrofit Engineering Plans
• 2 years to obtain a building permit
• 2.5 years to start construction
• 3 years to complete construction from the notice to comply date

Retrofit1 assists you with every step required of the Beverly Hills mandatory retrofit program, including engineering and construction. We handle all tenant and city communication, as well as make visits for you. Once we complete the retrofit construction, finishing up with the perfect match of paint at the end, your building will be ready for the next big one!

Call us today to get started and for a free estimate: 1-844-4Retro1 (473-8761) | www.retrofit1.com

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Slavica is passionate about writing and publishing your book as she has experienced firsthand the significant impact a book can have on an author’s life. That’s one of the reasons most successful entrepreneurs hire someone to write their book. Real estate brokers, financial planners, coaches, athletes… none of them are authors, yet most of the successful ones reap the rewards from their books.

When running a business or working in a high-competition professional field as most are, it’s very helpful to write a book. You will of course find personal benefits and an ego boost when seeing your name on a published manuscript. But there are also many professional and financial benefits of publishing a book. It will demonstrate (whether you wrote it yourself or not) your expertise and personal experience in any field.

There are at least eight reasons that should inspire you and motivate you to use your book to increase your income.

1. Writing a book inspires respect.

One may have been stuck in a rut struggling to stand out from its competitors, handing business cards that look like any other business card in the field.  Business is a competitive world no matter what profession you are in and everyone wants to have that edge, that recognizable ‘’je ne sais quoi’’ that makes you stand out from the crowd and be remembered. A book does that. People highly respect authors because they seem to belong to a separate world; a praised category of business people. By having your published book, you access that world and automatically gain the respect you deserve.

2. A book generates respect and notoriety

There are a lot of perks associated with the ‘’author status’’. Colleagues begin to treat the author as a full member of the professional or business world. She or he could receive more invitations to parties and dinners. The author gains notoriety and prestige. Slavica remembers a few times when she accessed VIP venues simply because of her status of ‘’published author’’. She received her self-petitioned United States immigration status and green card as a “person of extra ordinary ability’ because of her best sellers.  The ice brakes more easily when in presence of an ‘’author.” Instead of pitching a product or service, speaking about the published work, bridges the trust gap and enables a smoother transition from cold calling to sales.

3. Selling a book increases exposure to the public

The author writes and sells a book. Soon, speeches are requested by business associations, local organizations, and bookstores. The more you spend your time talking about your expert opinions, the more you are known both as an author and as the specialist in your field. Clients come to you instead of you chasing clients. You save time as you deal with less general hit-and-miss prospecting and access real potential buyers more directly.

4. A profitability cycle is implemented

The book opens doors and increases business sales and referrals. Other clients will want to buy the book as well which might lead to a second source of passive income. Plus, the author benefits from free advertising. For example, you probably cannot leave your business cards at a dentist or veterinary office, but you surely can leave your book. More visibility at no cost.

5. Lead generation is increased organically

Marketing a business via a book will generate organic indirect leads for the business. Whether you are a salesman or even a dentist, leads for new clients are essential. Nowadays, everyone needs new leads and needs to be kept top of mind to existing clients. If you publish a book, your list of prospects will multiply. Plus, people share books, show off their book, and talk about authors. They will promote you freely without giving it a second thought. They will be proud to work with an author instead of just your average accountant, financial planner, dentist, plastic surgeon, real estate broker…

6. An author will develop and sustain better relationships with new clients or existing clients.

People who feel that they are dealing with an authority on any subject will be more attentive when that person speaks. They have more patience and are more polite. They automatically view the author somehow as a better person, a respectable public figure no matter how many copies the book sold. They don’t even think of questioning who wrote the book as none of us ever do. But when you think of it, a successful entrepreneur won’t sit as his desk tediously typing away on a blank page. He or she will obviously hire an expert to do the job.

7. The book will do your sales pitch for you.

An author can benefit from the brand image.  When the book comes out, the media might mention the title of the book several times. In each press release or radio interview, the name of the author and the title of the book will be given. After a while, the author and the title of the book will be memorized. The book will do your sales pitch for you.

8. After having your book published, you can charge higher fees.

An author is always recognized as a specialist or an expert. When you want to job done well, you will usually seek the help of an expert or specialist. Everyone agrees that a specialist needs to be paid more. This does not mean that you are asking more than what the products or services are worth. On the contrary, it means that you can finally ask for the full amount your product or service is worth. The clients will be willing to pay more because you are known as an expert.

In addition to all these benefits, Slavica experienced another as an author. Being able to pass on knowledge to others helps more people on a larger scale. Writing is more than having a book, it is about building a legacy. Slavica helped thousands of people worldwide and even saved a few hundred lives. Her intention is for you to thrive and she wants to help you achieve that in less time. Start today. Have her team create your legacy. For more information, click here. To book a free consultation, click here.

The post Everyone Should Write A Book appeared first on Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce.

Following the reception, guests were invited to the Marquesa Ballroom for the awards ceremony. The New York Times recognized Rose Colella Trio filled the room with live jazz while guests tasted deserts and drinks. Emcee, Frank Mottek welcomed guests and began the ceremony alongside, Chamber President & CEO, Todd Johnson. Event Chair and Co-Chair Bobbe Joy Dawson and Vicky Mense also took the stage to thank sponsors and stakeholders for their incredible support of the event. The ceremony went on to recognize exemplary businesses and individuals in Beverly Hills who have shown excellence in 2019. The award categories included: the Fred Hayman visionary Award, Above and Beyond Award, Innovation Award, Retailer of the Year Award, Hotel of the Year Award, and Restaurant of the Year Award.

FRED HAYMAN VISIONARY AWARD: This award is presented to an individual or business that has brought an extremely positive impact on the BH community. This individual or business is known in the BH community as enthusiastic, an out-of-the-box thinker with a long-term vision. They exemplify drive, focus, and perseverance to deliver and bring people together to achieve the vision. WINNER: Bob and Leslie Spivak

ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD: Businesses who lead by example by going above and beyond in their business practices relating to employer and employee relations, guest services, and neighborhood relations. wINNERS: ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION CALIFORNIA SOUTHLAND & HERITAGE FINE WINES

INNOVATION AWARD: Businesses who excel in having created and implemented an original idea, which demonstrates marketplace success and practical development. WINNERS: Louis Vuitton & Imagine X Functional Neurology

RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD: Businesses who lead in best industry practices, community support, and esteemed reputation. WINNER: BEVERLY HILLS TEUSCHER

HOTEL OF THE YEAR AWARD: Businesses who lead in best industry practices, community support, and esteemed reputation. WINNER: WALDORF ASTORIA BEVERLY HILLS

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR AWARD: Businesses who lead in best industry practices, community support, and esteemed reputation. WINNER: LAWRY’S THE PRIME RIB, BEVERLY HILLS

Congratulations to all of the Golden Palm award recipients! We are proud to honor you all.

Special thanks to the following event sponsors: Gold Sponsor: Torrey Pines Bank; Silver Sponsors: Galvin, Gaustad & Stein, LLC | Wealth Management, U.S. Bank, Cedars-Sinai Health System, and East West Bank; Creative Direction & Show Production Sponsor: The Very Creative Firm; Supporting Sponsors: Champion Site + Sound, GEARYS Beverly Hills, Matt Kalin | Marketing & Design DBA, Montage Beverly Hills, Rose Colella Trio and The American Fundraising Foundation; Table Sponsors: Beverly Hills Migraine & Pain Management Institute, Pantheon Business Consulting, Ten Thousand, and Vibe Office Properties.

We hope everyone had a fabulous time and look forward to seeing you at our next signature event, the State of Luxury – Power Panel Series with Ann Shatilla at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on December 3 from 8 – 10 AM.

The post Best of Beverly Hills Golden Palm Awards 2019 Recap appeared first on Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce.