The Cinderella Project

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Early morning line at The Cinderella Project

Anyone who has ever purchased a prom dress knows the dilemma. A girl dreams of the perfect dress. Has a dress in mind. Finds the dress and then either, a) it’s not available in her size, b) it’s not the right color, or c) the price tag is extreme.  Usually the size and color can be solved with a quick Google search, but the price often is the factor that crushes the dream. 

So when I heard about The Cinderella Project, I knew that they were making some girls dreams come true. This organization is providing free, yes I said FREE, dresses to high school juniors and seniors in Caddo, Bossier, Desoto, Red River, Webster, and Bienville Parishes. My daughter and I arrived at the event excitedly. The line was full of other girls waiting to find their dream dress. 

 

The event continues on Saturday, March 28, 2015. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. on a first come, first served basis and the doors will open at 8:30 a.m.  Each girl will be paired with a volunteer personal shopper, who will guide her through an awesome inventory of fabulous dresses during a magical 30-minute shopping appointment! Private dressing rooms will be provided.  

Make sure you follow The Cinderella Project on their social media:

Facebook: CPofShreveport

Instagram: CPShreveport

The waiting is the hard part

I’ll update with a photo of the dress my daughter finds. Right now, the wait is on.

That just happened,

Robin Williams,

Marketing Maven at Holiday Lanes

UPDATE: She found a dress!! Yay. What a wonderful event. Thanks to all those who make the event happen. 

UPDATE: Laura found her dress

The girl is HAPPY!

Grilled Cheese in Bossier City Please!

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TOM+CHEE Opening Day - Grand Opening

TOM+CHEE Opening Day – Grand Opening

If you like grilled cheese and live in or near Bossier City, Louisiana, you are in luck. TOM+CHEE had their grand opening today. Oh, and they have so much more than just grilled cheese. Grilled Cheese Donuts? Yes, that’s a thing.

TOM+CHEE Opening Day - Francisees & Founder

TOM+CHEE Opening Day – Francisees & Founder

You may have heard about their awesome story and followed their success on the ABC TV Show “Shark Tank”, or one of several other tv shows that have featured them. In the event you haven’t heard about TOM+CHEE, let me fill you in a bit. Trew Quackenbush is the founder and master cheese mind behind it all. Corey Ward is the marketing guru that creates the fun atmosphere. Together they have made a dream come true. What started as a food tent in a Cincinnati public square ice skating rink, has now become a cheese empire. Trew began working at 15 in a family burger joint and had a dream of one day owning his own restaurant. At a backyard barbecue, Corey and Trew made plans to get the cheese grilled. Starting with $2400, the company is now a multi-million dollar franchised phenomenon.

TOM+CHEE Opening Day - First Customers

TOM+CHEE Opening Day – First Customers

I had a few moments to speak to Trew at the grand opening of the Bossier City store. It’s super amazing to see this guy, who is probably worth millions, interacting with his newest franchised team. He is down-to-earth, approachable and seems to have a fun spirit. It made me so excited to know that there really are people who care behind franchises. Chris Currie and Josh Woodard are the franchisee owners of the Bossier City restaurant. As the “Marketing Maven” for Holiday Lanes, I enjoyed see their polo uniform shirts embroidered with their titles. Josh – “The Head Cheese” and Christ – “The Jedi Master”. What fun!

TOM+CHEE Opening Day - line is a good sign

TOM+CHEE Opening Day – line is a good sign

TOM+CHEE is located at 4200 Airline Drive, Bossier City. Their hours are Monday-Thursday: 10am-9pm; Friday-Saturday: 10am-10pm; and Sunday: 11am-5pm.

Make sure you follow TOM+CHEE on their local social media sites:

TOM+CHEE Opening Day - Founder Trew Quackenbush & me

TOM+CHEE Opening Day – Founder Trew Quackenbush & me

Interested in more about TOM+CHEE? Here are a few links:

That just happened,

Robin Williams,
Marketing Maven at Holiday Lanes

I’m changing the title of this blog

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Travel South USA Opening Reception with Meg Davenport and Jada Durden

Travel South USA Opening Reception with Meg Davenport and Jada Durden

Do you ever start something and never finish it? That’s how I feel about my blogs. I have been neglecting both lately. I’ve realized that the neglect of this blog is because I do so much more than just volunteer with the awesome Bossier Chamber of Commerce and the title was pigeon-holing me. I’ve decided to change the name of my blog from “My Time as a Bossier Chamber Diplomat” to “That Just Happened“. I’m hoping this will allow me to share more about all of the activities for which I participate. This blog will now celebrate and promote good stuff going on in the Northwest Louisiana community while I represent as Holiday Lanes‘ Marketing Maven.

If you subscribe to my blog, please be patient with me. I am going to try to back-post several events that I want included on my blog and that means you may get more emails than normal.

Sharing the Holiday Lanes message with the Bossier Chamber Board of Directors

Sharing the Holiday Lanes message with the Bossier Chamber Board of Directors

Working for Holiday Lanes is such a fun job. Melanie Coleman (managing member/proprietor) understands the importance of being in and supporting the community. She told me just today, “we are about to have the funnest year EVER”. This is exciting to me because as a “creative” it isn’t always easy to conform to a normal 9-5 position. Thank goodness she gives me lots of opportunities to work around that.

Showing my two posters displayed at the

Showing my two posters displayed at the “See America” Exhibit at the Meadows Museum in Shreveport, LA

The reason that I feel the need to share a blog about events going on in our area is because I have this really goofy pet peeve. When I hear someone say (in a whiny voice) “There’s nothing to do around here”, I want to prove them wrong! So with that, I’m going to share, share, share.

I hope to see you around NW Louisiana,

Robin Williams,
Marketing Maven at Holiday Lanes

Sharing the Holiday Lanes message

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11082576_10152747994957997_3197479557838155281_nI had fun sharing the Holiday Lanes message by bringing a little fun to the Bossier Chamber of Commerce March board meeting!

Get your Pelican Parish swag!

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Jeremy Johnson at Pelican Parish Supply Co. Launch Party (photo cred: Casey Habich)

Jeremy Johnson at Pelican Parish Supply Co. Launch Party (photo cred: Casey Habich)

Pelican Parish Supply Co. launches at Gearhead Outfitters in Shreveport

Pelican Parish Supply Co. launches at Gearhead Outfitters in Shreveport

So there’s this really cool guy that I know named Jeremy. Jeremy is an artist. Jeremy just launched a new line of really fabulous Louisiana inspired apparel and art. Pelican Parish Supply Co. touches a special place in my heart for my love of all things.”Louisiana”.

My favorite of the Pelican Parish Supply Co. shirts was the limited-edition "Sunshine" long-sleeve hoodies worn by Jesi Wilcox. (photo cred: PPSC Facebook page)

My favorite of the Pelican Parish Supply Co. limited-edition “Sunshine” long-sleeve hoodies worn by Jesi Wilcox. (photo cred: PPSC Facebook page)

You’re not going to find a fleur de lis in his designs. While the fleur de lis is somewhat of a given in most Louisiana designs, Jeremy is opting for a more unique approach. His idea is to “champion good design that features the iconic state bird and pays homage to our culture – all pieces are bold and a bit kooky, just like the people of Louisiana themselves”.

As is usually the case, I arrived at the first launch party of the week just as it was getting started at Gearhead Outfitters in Mall St. Vincent in Shreveport. (I’m always worried that I’m going to miss something if I arrive late.) There was already a nice crowd forming. It was great seeing people supporting a local artist. My favorite of the Pelican Parish Supply Co. shirts was the limited-edition “Sunshine” long-sleeve hoodies worn by Jesi Wilcox. I wanted to snatch it right of her cute little self. I’m going to do my best to get over to Great Raft on Thursday to get one of my own.

This week is Pelican Parish Supply Co’s launch week, so if you missed the March 24th event at Gearhead Outfitters, make plans to attend one of the other upcoming events:

Make sure you also visit the Pelican Parish Supply Co. Website to get your own PPSC swag; and follow their Facebook Page.

That Just Happened,

Robin Williams,
Marketing Maven at Holiday Lanes

Direct Auto Insurance – Bossier City

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10420273_10204964148876591_7201913009318016227_nCongrats to Direct Auto Insurance at 1300 Airline Drive in Bossier City on their Bossier Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting

Pet Star Animal Care

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10985927_10204936600827907_604590405909315718_nCongrats to Pet Star Animal Care located at 4500 Benton Road, Suite 100 in Bossier City, on joining the Bossier Chamber of Commerce.

Antique Shoppes at 1100 Barksdale

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10999258_10204882327431106_1020191315660469782_n 10171050_10204882327751114_2881270971064769827_n11034914_10204882326551084_2468219198653927167_nCongrats to Antique Shoppes at 1100 Barksdale on their Bossier Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting

Is your business offering military discounts?

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Military Discount Directory Press ReleaseI’m proud to live in a community such as Bossier-Shreveport where businesses have a tradition of supporting the military community, whether Air Force personal at Barksdale, Army/National Guard, Naval operations, Coast Guard or Marines, the military population matters to businesses in Bossier-Shreveport. They support our businesses and we know how important that is because as we provide what they need, they protect our freedoms. It’s just good business to honor and support the military in our community.

Holiday Lanes values the men and women who serve our country. We are aware that military families are often in a town away from their home and are looking for ways to interact in the community. Bowling is a long-standing military tradition with families bowling all over the world. In fact, Holiday Lanes has been providing fun and fitness to military families in Bossier-Shreveport for over 53 years. It’s a way for military personnel to have a break from their daily stresses. Offering a military discount is a small, tangible way to honor and thank them for their great sacrifice, as well as show them what an exciting time Holiday Lanes can provide.

Military Discount Directory Press ReleaseFor businesses that are not currently offering discounts, I would say to you, “it’s a good thing to do”. It enhances the relationship with your business and the military. It invites new people into your business to experience your product or services.

Everyone in business wants to do their best whether it’s bowling, selling a burger, or providing service and of course we want to honor the military, but also again I say “it’s just good business”. I think I speak for many businesses in Bossier-Shreveport when I say “We love the military and we want them to be active customers in our businesses”.

Find out more about how to participate in the Digital Preferred Military Discount Directory by checking out the following press release from the Bossier Chamber of Commerce: http://www.bossierchamber.com/news/military-discount-directory-launches-online/

See ya around Bossier,

Robin Williams,
Bossier Chamber of Commerce Diplomat & Marketing Maven at Holiday Lanes