Business Open Studio hosted by Concept2

Date: Wednesday Dec 2nd, 2009

Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Location: Concept2

Address: 105 Industrial Park Drive, Morrisville, VT

Cost: Business Open Studio is FREE and open to VBSR members and non-members

To Register: Please RSVP to or call 802-862-8347; RSVPs appreciated, but walk-ins also welcome

For More Info: Call 802-862-8347 or email

Event Description

Creating communities = powerful marketing

Concept2, maker of innovative products for rowing (and now skiing!), has discovered over the years that keeping customers happy is much more cost-effective than traditional marketing techniques. Concept2 cultivates vibrant and loyal communities of customers through real and virtual competitions and challenges, online logbooks and forums, support for fitness education and training, and much more. Join us to hear how Concept2 shares its founders’ infectious enthusiasm for rowing and Nordic skiing.

A bit of history…
Concept2 got its start in 1976 in the back of a bread truck when Dick and Pete Dreissigacker, fresh from Olympic training, started making composite racing oars—now the oar of choice among the world's rowers. They went on to create the Concept2 Indoor Rower, now used worldwide by Olympic athletes, cardiac rehab patients and every caliber of rower in between. Since then the company has grown to over 50 employees, and the product line includes the Indoor Rower and Dreissigacker Racing Oars. Though much larger today, Concept2 remains dedicated to providing the most innovative rowing products and programs to its customers.

Concept2 on citizenship and social responsibility…
Rowing is about individuals and teams. Community is where we go for support, encouragement and competition. We build community so that it will be there for all of us. Concept2 also prioritizes our wider Vermont community. Our volunteer employee donations committee supports, with funds and equipment, organizations that improve quality of life for our local neighbors and communities. Our goal is to make significant contributions that provide direct benefits. We target efficient grass-roots organizations that have low administrative costs relative to program spending. We try to balance our giving among organizations that promote environmental conservation, education (preschool and beyond), arts, sports, health and other community enhancing activities.

Refreshments courtesy of The Bee's Knees!

Directions to Event

To use the map: Click and drag to move the map around. Zoom by using the controls on the left. Double-click to center the map.

Event Sponsors

The Cushman Design Group, Inc. offers personalized residential, interior, landscape, and master planning design services for those who value elegant design, natural materials, and environmental consciousness in their home or business.

Great Big Graphics offers comprehensive, artistic branding for businesses, educational institutions and non-profit organizations in Vermont and beyond. Specializations include hand-carved and hand-painted signs, graphic/web design, and package design. On-site production capabilities large-format printing and commercial vehicle graphics.

Green Mountain College was founded in 1834 by the United Methodist Church. At the heart of the College's environmental mission is the 37-credit Environmental Liberal Arts General Education Program, which all GMC students complete. ELA combines the skills and content of a strong liberal arts course of study with a focus on the environment. Experiential learning is also central to a GMC education: Students are encouraged to gain hands-on experience through internships, service-learning, and study abroad programs.

The Growth Coach® of Vermont provides strategic, on-going coaching to business owners, entrepreneurs, executives and self-employed professionals.

Laughing Moon Chocolates on Main Street in Stowe Village makes delicious, handmade chocolates with the big picture in mind. All of our centers including truffle, ganache, caramel, buttercream, buttercrunch, marshmallow, and fudge is made on site in small batches using fresh local dairy. We hand dip each piece to perfection in our open kitchen offering free daily chocolate dipping demonstrations at 2pm and Candy Cane Making demonstrations throughout the holiday season on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 11am through December 23rd (candy cane demos are free to watch and $6.00 to make your own candy cane. Reservations are required to make your own as space is limited). Custom and corporate orders are our specialty! Reach us at 802-253-9591 or visit laughingmoonchocolates.com.

For over thirty years, Sterling College has lead by practicing and teaching a sustainable, environmentally compatible learning and life style. It is the nation’s smallest, private, liberal arts college, with 100 to 125 students. Graduates become farmers, policy makers, lawyers, teachers, horticulturists, scientists, health care providers, researchers, loggers, and more. It is one of only seven federally recognized work-service-learning colleges, similar to well-known Warren Wilson and Berea colleges. Sterling’s environmentally focused, liberal arts curriculum focuses on four academic areas: Sustainable Agriculture, Conservation Ecology, Outdoor Leadership and Education, and Natural History. www.sterlingcollege.edu

For 20 years, the Vermont Community Loan Fund has strengthened Vermont by providing equitable access to capital for the development of affordable housing, community facilities and organizations, and local businesses. A nonprofit, mission-driven lender, we:
- Provide loans, grants and ongoing technical assistance for the development of affordable housing, community facilities, local businesses, child care programs and other projects that benefit lower-income Vermonters;
- Offer socially-responsible investors a safe, sensible tool for investing in Vermont.