How has your local Chamber of Commerce helped to launch, grow or maintain your business' goals?
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M$3 Answers
- Helped with lunchtime sales or parties featuring our products at local businesses to help employees with gift shopping (especially at Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day).
- Helped to qualify for less-expensive health insurance and business insurance available to Chamber of Commerce members.
- Helped to find out about local events where we set up a booth and promote our business.
- Helped to meet good, reliable sources for products and services like accounting, printing, computer support, etc.
- Helped to get referred to other Chamber members' contacts.
- Helped with a chance of meeting local retailers who were interested in carrying our products.
- Helped to have an opportunity to do joint ventures with other local businesses, such as cooperative advertising or trunk shows.
- Chambers of Commerce generally work on civic improvement, legislation favoring local businesses, and economic development.
- Provided access to mentors who helped us develop our business
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They activley engage local businesses in the following ways:
- Cross promotion of businesses with an emphasis on shopping local first.
- Organzie business community events such as breakfast lectures, etc.
- Interface directly with local govornment on behalf of members.
Direclty, my local chamber of commerce has helped introduce me and my services to other local business people. This has garnered a small amount of local business that I would not have had otherwise.
Also, I have enjoyed a couple of lectures from guest speakers. It's always informative to hear a lawyer or accountant talk on small business issues. One of the things I like best about these lectures is that at the conclusion, they invite open conversation and direct questions. Lawyers, accountants and other professionals are happy to "help out the little guy" and provide free advice.
Since I don't have time to get involved in local politics, it's nice to know that there is an organization that will work on my behalf to introduce topics at local political gatherings and update me on govornment changes that effect me. A good example of this was a recent, simple zoning change that required me to update my insurance and apply for a tax credit.
In my experience, local Chambers of Commerce give back as much as you give. If you're open to meeting with people, talking about businesses and forming relationships with like minded business folks in your area, it can go a long way.
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* Representing its membership before elected and appointed governmental bodies and officials
* Assisting the development of the competitive position of its members through networking, educational, and marketing programs
* Involving business in the wider Alexandria community by stimulating a general awareness of public affairs among its members and promoting a good quality of life
# The Chamber will grow to 1,100 members by 12/31/2010 and strive towards that goal each year.
# The Chamber’s focus will be on Chamber members – member service and sponsor care.
# The Chamber will increase advocacy and education programs to achieve and maintain a balance with networking as the three primary focus areas of the Chamber.
# The Chamber will retain and add programs and services which benefit Chamber smaller business members, which make up 78% of Chamber membership and represent 91% of the businesses in Alexandria, while at the same time implementing programs to attract and retain mid-sized companies.
# Implement policies and fiscal accountability which strengthen the Chamber’s financial position
# The Chamber’s internal administration processes will be streamlined, better organized, operate on consistent policies and reflect fiduciary responsibility.
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