Business Briefs

After an absence of 39 years in Naperville, Buick is returning to the city. Michal Van Iten, dealer principal of Village Pontiac/GMC announced recently that his dealership at Ogden and Aurora avenues will be the new home for Buick.

Village Pontiac GMC will now be called Village Buick Pontiac GMC. The Van Iten family has owned Village Pontiac GMC since Robert Van Iten, Michal's father and very active current president, purchased the dealership back in 1973.

Robert Van Iten was the first to open a dealership on West Ogden Avenue in 1978 and for the next seven years, was the only dealership on what is now dealer row in Naperville.

Naperville and Village Buick Pontiac GMC each has experienced tremendous growth since the '70s, and with the growth came expansion. Village Buick Pontiac GMC is the Midwest's largest Pontiac and GMC dealer, a title the dealership has held for more than a decade. The dealership offers service from 6:30 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Village Buick Pontiac GMC is at 1585 W. Ogden Ave. Call 630-357-2200 or visit www.villagepontiacgmc.com.

Rush-Copley recently was named to Modern Healthcare's annual list of the Best Places to Work in Healthcare. Modern Healthcare conducted the program to recognize outstanding employers in the health care industry on a national level.

The Best Places to Work in Healthcare program collected information from both the employer and employees and was open to all companies with at least 25 employees. Employers completed a survey detailing company policies, practices, benefits and demographics.

Modern Healthcare will reveal the specific ranking of the Best Places to Work in Healthcare, from 1 to 100, in a special supplement to be published Monday.

Rush-Copley is one of the largest employers in the greater Fox Valley area with more than 2,000 employees and nearly 500 physicians on staff. Visit rushcopley.com.

Family-owned Imprint Enterprises of Aurora last month received the Business of the Year Award in category of professional services by the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce. The award was presented during the chamber's 89th annual celebration.

Imprint Enterprises has been in operation since 1975.

Water Street Studios, Batavia's new community art center, has changed its weekend gallery hours to better serve the community.

Hours will be 5 to 9 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Water Street Studios is at 160 S. Water St. Visit www.waterstreetstudios.com or e-mail waterstreetstudios@gmail.com or call at 630-761-9977.

Pockets may be new to the area, but it has already made a big impact in the community helping a range local nonprofits through its extensive community service and giveback projects. As a result, Pockets was one of six businesses to receive the Business of the Year Award from The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce. Pockets Aurora was selected from nearly two-dozen nominees.

Pockets efforts include sponsoring the VNA's Fox Valley Walk to Remember, the "Raise Some Dough" fundraising event for Hesed House, and the support of The Chicago Fire Department's Walk for the Kids 2009. This fall, Pockets Restaurants will donate a percentage of weekly teachers' orders back to participating schools in an ongoing partnership with several West Aurora District 129 Schools.

The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce announced the awards at its 89th annual celebration last month. A wide range of businesses from Aurora, North Aurora, Oswego, Batavia, Naperville and Montgomery were nominated. Other recipients this year were the Visionary Agency, Prisco's Fine Foods, Imprint Enterprises, Geneva Construction Company, Sunnymere of Aurora.

Kaplan Logistics, digital printing and fulfillment services, will serve as the exclusive order fulfillment partner for Albert Whitman & Company, a publisher of children's book, best known for its classic series, "The Boxcar Children" mysteries.

Beginning in November, Kaplan Logistics will begin fulfilling orders for all 750 book titles of Albert Whitman & Company from its 290,000-square-foot facility in Aurora. Based on the agreement, Kaplan Logistics, which ships roughly 1 million packages per year, will fulfill orders and ship them out the same day, allowing Albert Whitman & Company to process its orders at a significantly faster rate.

Kaplan Logistics is a full-service third party logistics provider that utilizes state-of-the-art technology to offer services including fulfillment, in-house digital printing and kit assembly to partners and clients.

buybuy Baby has opened its new 34,000-square-foot superstore at 301 N. Randall Road. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

The Batavia store is the third store in Illinois. buybuy BABY is also located in Downers Grove and Schaumburg.

Its extensive selection includes an assortment of premier infant and toddler merchandise in categories including furniture, car seats, strollers, feeding, bedding, bath, health and safety essentials, toys, learning and development products, clothing and a unique selection of seasonal and holiday products.

For more, visit www.buybuybaby.com.

Nearly 50 members of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce attended a "Do-It-Yourself Marketing" workshop recently at the Hilton Garden Inn in St. Charles. The member-only event was developed by the chamber staff and chamber member-presenters for businesses seeking low- and no-cost marketing ideas, suggestions and advice.

During the course of the half-day workshop, participants had the opportunity to visit up to six of the eight marketing "topic tables" available -- developing a basic marketing plan, writing press releases, using MS Outlook as a marketing tool, promotional products and giveaways, Chamber marketing opportunities, social media, direct mail and print advertising.

Each 30-minute presentation was backed up by handouts included in the 50-page binder each participant received, along with three or more "quick-tips" that workshop participants could employ literally as soon as they returned to their offices or stores.

For information about the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce call 630-584-8384, e-mail info@stcharleschamber.com, or visit www.stcharleschamber.com. Business Briefs