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WHAT’S IN STORE: Spirits high at Langley mall soiree

In this week’s busines column, the editor drops in for Willowbrook’s charity night and talks chamber.
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A few Willowbrook Shopping Centre merchant dressed up or decorated their store with a Christmas theme, in keeping with the kick off to the holiday season. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)

Hundreds, and more likely thousands, attended the Willowbrook Shopping Centre’s That’s the Spirit night Tuesday, hunting for bargains, entering for prizes, and all-around getting into the Christmas spirit.

The mall was packed for the annual charity shopping night, where guests pay an admission to attend – all that money earmarked to be shared with 17 local charities.

Last year’s event raised $41,000. Stay tuned online to learn how much money was raised this year.

READ: Holiday spirit bubbled over at Langley mall’s charity event

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On the chamber front

What grade would you give your business’s social media efforts – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram?

Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce is hosting social media training for the business community next week.

The session runs Thursday, Nov. 23, from 1 to 5 p.m. followed by an after party until 7 at the Cascades Casino.

A group of speakers will teach business owners and operators that Twitter doesn’t have to be hard, by giving them seven steps to follow. They’ll provide five steps to attract the ideal client on Facebook. They offer the tools so companies can maximize LinkedIn to help grow their business, and they’ll teach some marketing how-to tips for Marketing a local business using Instagra

Pre-registration is required through the chamber at 604-371-3770 or at events@langleychamber.com. Cost is $75 for members, $95 for non members.

Also on the chamber agenda next week, the chamber is hosting a “Why Giving Matters to Business” dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

This month’s meeting is at the Langley Golf & Banquet Centre, where guests will hear from Marco Iannuzzi from the BC Lions. He’s a Harvard grad and investment advisor who will share his thoughts on the importance of giving.

Guests are asked to wear red in support of Giving Tuesday, which happens Nov. 28.

But the plea for participation and support for #GivingTuesday, goes beyond just wearing red next week.

“Most people know about Black Friday and Cyber Monday… there’s now #GivingTuesday,” explained chamber executive director Colleen Clark.

“It’s a growing Canadian movement for giving and volunteering, taking place each year after Cyber Monday,” she said.

Calling it the “opening day” of the giving season, Clark described it as “a day where charities, companies and individuals join together to share commitments, rally for favourite causes and think about others.”

So, the chamber is encouraging Langley businesses to adopt a local non-profit for #GivingTuesday, noting companies can make a pledge to volunteer hours to a Langley organization, become a partner and host awareness or fundraising events for their charity of choice, or make a donation to a community organization.

More information and ideas are available online at www.GivingTuesday.ca.

In the meantime, an RSVP is still required for the chamber’s monthly dinner meeting at Langley Golf. Again, people can call 604-371-3770 or email events@langleychamber.com.

Also worth noting on your calendar, Nov. 30 is the Business After Hours, Dec. 6 is the U40 networking social, and Dec. 12 is the chamber’s holiday dinner with the H.D. Stafford Good Citizen of the Year award presentation.

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A few Willowbrook Shopping Centre merchant dressed up or decorated their store with a Christmas theme, in keeping with the kick off to the holiday season. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)
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A few Willowbrook Shopping Centre merchant dressed up or decorated their store with a Christmas theme, in keeping with the kick off to the holiday season. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)
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A few Willowbrook Shopping Centre merchant dressed up or decorated their store with a Christmas theme, in keeping with the kick off to the holiday season. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)


Roxanne Hooper

About the Author: Roxanne Hooper

I began in the news industry at age 15, but honestly, I knew I wanted to be a community journalist even before that.
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