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Updated: February 20, 2012 8:57AM

New consultant

Lori Sobczak of River Grove has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple Inc., a national direct sales company featuring more than 60 easy-to-prepare foods.

As an independent business owner, Sobczak offers food samples at home taste-testing parties, along with easy ideas for everyday meals, recipes, serving suggestions and fun. All of Tastefully Simple’s products are open-and-enjoy or can be prepared by adding only one or two ingredients.

“For more information about Tastefully Simple products, taste-testing parties or starting your own Tastefully Simple business, contact Lori Sobczak at laurasobczak@yahoo.com.

Tastefully Simple is the original national home taste-testing company featuring easy-to-prepare foods and gifts. The company’s products are offered through independent consultants across the United States. For more information about Tastefully Simple, visit tastefullysimple.com.

Pamper yourself:
WIM event Jan. 21

Women in Management Near West Cook Chapter is hosting a professional women’s Pamper Party themed “Finding Balance: Business – Mind, Body and Soul,” from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 21), at 4 U Hair and Spa, 7375-1/2 North Ave., River Forest. Refreshments will be served and you can indulge in some “me time” and mingle with liked minded women; experience some stimulating conversation; invigorate your body; move to the music of your soul and elevate your business mind.

Registration is free for members; $20 for nonmembers (prepaid reservations required). Reservations are required prior to noon Friday (Jan. 20). Online payment options include credit card and PayPal. Payment is not accepted at this event.

Women in Management is a support organization for professional women and women aspiring to a management position or entrepreneurship. The organization was founded to facilitate the exchange of experiences and ideas and to promote professional and personal growth. Information on membership and upcoming events can be found by visiting the website at www.Wimonline.org.

Snag a deal on
the Blackmark-it

The newest e-commerce player is Blackmark-it, a daily deal site for black-owned businesses in the Chicago area. With $3 billion in revenue, online couponing is all the rage. Blackmark-it’s niche, black-owned businesses will provide affordable advertising to retailers and compelling deals for consumers.

Cook County has more than 100,000 black-owned businesses, more than any other county in the nation. Ninety-four percent of these businesses have only one employee, the owner. With a goal of helping businesses grow, Blackmark-it will feature a different establishment every day, bringing new customers and more sales to each.

Owners Jamel and Natasha Williams, the husband and wife team who opened the Chicago South Side restaurant, Covenant Café, recall their own penny-pinching advertising.

“We did door hangers, car flyers and were overly reliant on word of mouth,” said Jamel Williams. “Blackmark-it would have been an excellent tool during our restaurant-owning days. Now that we are catering exclusively, we will utilize the service to feature some specials.”

With a 12-year background as a marketing research professional with the Nielsen Co., Natasha Williams has developed marketing strategies and analyzed consumer behavior for Fortune 500 companies. “I’ve seen the returns on ample advertising campaigns but when you are a small minority-owned business, advertising feels like more risk than gain. You put your money in, hoping you’ll reach the right audience. It’s a gamble a small business is hesitant to make.”

The Williamses partnered with Northern Illinois University classmate Delandon Mason, to discuss the viability of jumping on the proverbial daily-deal site bandwagon. The goal: bringing awareness to their favorite local businesses and offering shoppers a post-recession break.

“We have businesses ready to provide some phenomenal offers. In turn they will have access to our subscriber list of thousands and keep an attractive share of all sales. At the risk of sounding cliché’, it’s a win-win,” Mason said.

Blackmark-it has deal commitments from Chicago area restaurants, physical therapists, salons and day spas and graphic designers. Need a referral for a plumber, painter, accountant or dentist? Visit the Blackmark-it website to read reviews and snag a deal along the way.

Subscribers will receive notice of the forthcoming launch date. Go to www.blackmark-it.com to review sample deals and join the mailing list. Interested merchants may call Natasha Williams at (773) 697-1173.

Warming centers
open if needed

With what are typically the coldest weeks of winter still ahead, residents are reminded that warming centers are open from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at West Suburban Medical Center, Erie Street at Austin Boulevard, and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Rush Oak Park Hospital, 500 S. Maple Ave. Hours may be extended when weather conditions warrant.

To find out if the warming center is open after hours, call West Suburban Hospital at (708) 763-6747 or Rush Oak Park Hospital at (708) 660-6000.

If transportation is needed, call the Oak Park Police Department’s non-emergency number: (708) 386-3800.

Lyric Opera lectures
continue Jan. 30

Once again this season, the Oak Park Public Library and the River Forest Public Library have joined together to offer local patrons the complete Lyric Opera Lecture Series of eight programs. The next lecture will be given at 2 p.m. Jan. 30, at the main Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St. The lecture will focus on “Showboat,” with music by Jerome Kern, based on the novel “Show Boat” by Edna Ferber.

For more information or directions to the Oak Park Public Library, call (708) 383-8200.