Business & Tech
Networking, Shopping and Martinis
The Department's Ladies night is an opportunity for women business owners to promote their wares.
Often, the term ladies' night implies a discounted cover charge or drink specials at a bar. For the women in attendance at The Department Ladies' Night, though, the term meant an opportunity to network with other business owners and to shop.
"We think it is so important to promote local businesswomen and this is a fun way to do that,"Hallie Brenczewski, owner of The Department said.
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For Sherry Kimble-Gant, owner of Gji's Sweet Shoppe it's about the people.
"No matter what kind of day you have had, you can come into the Sweet Shoppe and find something to make your day a little sweeter" she said.
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About 200 people attended the event, which featured local businesses owned and operated by women.
"I wanted to try something new, be my own boss and give back to the community," Sarah Stephenson, Salon 360 owner stated.
Stephenson runs a special program where 10% of qualified sales go to local charitable organizations.
A collection of over a dozen businesses lined the entire upstairs section of the downtown Joliet restaurant. Attendees were able to shop, sample food and other items and enjoy complimentary drink samples from The Department's specialty martini menu.
LeAnn Ryan, owner of A Say It With a Sign - Artistic Lettering coordinated the event.
"I have been running my own business for 6 years now and I love what I do," she said.
Ryan has been putting together these events in the area for about a year now in addition to managing her own company.
Many of the featured businesswomen at the event started their own businesses because of the flexibility that doing so provides them when it comes to balancing family and career. All agreed that these types of events are great for networking and getting their companies' names out in the community.
The Department is located at 205 N. Jefferson Street in Joliet and plans on hosting one of these events every three months. The next Ladies Night will be February 10, 2011. If you would like more information on participating in a Ladies Night Event, Please contact LeAnn Ryan at sayitwithasign@comcast.net.
Businesswomen participating in the evening's festivities included:
Stacy Burns, Thirty-One/trendy bags with a purpose, mythirtyone.com/stacyburns
Shannon Capps, Heritage Makers/Personal Publishing, digitalscrappinfun.com
Maribeth Cardwell, At Home Styles/hairstylist, maribeth319@aol.com
Sandy Churchwell, Jewels by Park Lane/Fashion Jewelry, jewelsbyparklane.com
Gabrielle Covington, the Pampered Chef/Kitchen Products, www.pamperedchef.biz/covington
Janicca Ditta, Cami Girl Boutique/Accessories, millerfam2@iswan.net
Caris Duda, Tupperware, www.my.tupperware.com/carisduda
Michelle, Hughes, Tastefully Simple/food, tastefullysimple.com/web/mhughes3
Dawn Hull, Willow House/Home Décor, partieswithdawnhull.willowhouse.com
Sherry Kimble-Gant, GJi's Sweet Shoppe/Candy&Treats, gjissweetshoppe.com
Lisa Garcia, Avon/cosmetics, www.youravon.com/lisagarcia
Machell Klee, Shaklee/home&health products, www.machellklee.myshaklee.com
Natalie Meyer, Mary Kay/Cosmetics, marykay.com/nmeyer1
Gana Pocius, The Sports Huddle/custom apparel, www.thesportshuddle.com
Ann Rickerman-Hambrey, H Property Solutions LLC/homeowner solutions, www.hpropertysolutions.com
LeAnn Ryan, A Say it With a Sign/artistic vinyl lettering, sayitwithasign.info
Beverly Scheidt, Stampin Up/crafts&demonstrations, cardsandcandles.stampinup.net
Fahreen Spencer, Scentsy/flameless candles, fahreen4urscents.scentsy.us
Sarah Stephenson, Salon 360/family hair salon, salon360.net
Nicole Warren, Willow House/Home Décor, shopwithnicole.willowhouse.com
