chamber of commerce?

[Loretta K]

does anyone here belong to their local chamber of commerce? is it (possibly) a good networking/marketing venue?

 

[pink_rocker1210]

I have just recently been looking into this!! Not for the marketing as much as for the benefits----heatlh benefits. So far I am playig phone eforum.xxx with the person who can give me health benefits advice.
Plus I am toying with the idea of hiring an employee, and then the marketing/networking just might be beneficial.

I was told by someone who is with the CofC that her benefit costs were greatly reduced,, but of course you have an anuual fee (here it is $500.00) and she has several employees.....

Guess I am not much help,,huh??

 

[Kenneth]

Health benefits from being a member of the CoC? I never imagined such a thing!

Our local one is putting on a "Community Showcase" event next Saturday... no, on the 11th. Unfortunately, the cost for a MEMBER to rent a booth is cost-prohibitive for us at this time ($350). That doesn't include the cost of the Chamber membership! Our Chamber seems to be VERY active in our community, which could be a very helpful thing, but I'm scared of the initial cost.....

OTOH, if they can help us get health insurance for less (for a family), it might be worth it. Then again, would that insurance cover CAM and preventative care? Gotta wonder.... LOL!

 

[h56781]

chamber of commerce?

does anyone here belong to their local chamber of commerce? is it (possibly) a good networking/marketing venue?

I am a member of my local COC and I LOVE it! At my local chamber there are no other massage therapists so when I go to networking events I always get the 'ohhh's and 'ahhhh's and usually when we go around introducing ourselves the next person goes "I think the MT should go around and give us samples!" I have had a few clients from chamber events I have done and this month am having a booth at their business after hours and offering specials to drum up more business. But so far so good and I love it! I would hightly recommend doing it!

 

[Vennice D]

I belonged to our chamber for 1 year and it was a huge waste of the expensive fees and my time. At the luncheons, people were so interested in selling themselves that they didn't listen to what others had to offer. Yes, I got the "give us samples" routine. I also attended after hours events and biz to biz expos. Most, not all, were just interested in trying to get huge discounts or freebies, claiming it would help me attract business. Wrong. We had no massage therapists either. Now I know why.

So I went and joined the Visitor's and Convention Bureau. The cost was $100 more and worth thousands. I've been a member for 5 years and business has been increasing each year.

Just my dime's worth.

 

[Reflectives]

I think it can greatly depend on the Chamber. For me, I've been a member for almost a year now and it has brought me some exposure to the community. I haven't had any direct referrals but I have increased my business through opportunities from the CoC, so indirectly, I have benefited.

 

[waia2000]

Being a member of the local chamber has been a great benefit for me. After Christmas I buy the big baskets of shower gels from lavendar to rosesage scents and break them down into 2 gifts per clear bag (.97 from Walmart). The large baskets are marked down to $10 and I get about 8 to 10 gifts per basket. Tape my business card on front of bag and carry them to Secretary's Day where I do free chair massage and pass those little tidbits out. Not only have I had great success in gaining new clients, but because I was generous to the Chamber, when it came time for a business spotlight of the month for our local paper (front page fooeforum.xxxe), the Chamber secretary sent them my way. It definately paid off for me.

 

[chelsea.divine]

Being a member of the local chamber has been a great benefit for me. After Christmas I buy the big baskets of shower gels from lavendar to rosesage scents and break them down into 2 gifts per clear bag (.97 from Walmart). The large baskets are marked down to $10 and I get about 8 to 10 gifts per basket. Tape my business card on front of bag and carry them to Secretary's Day where I do free chair massage and pass those little tidbits out. Not only have I had great success in gaining new clients, but because I was generous to the Chamber, when it came time for a business spotlight of the month for our local paper (front page fooeforum.xxxe), the Chamber secretary sent them my way. It definately paid off for me.

That's an excellent idea, TOG.

I think that with joining a local association of any sort, the decision is a personal one, based on the local area and surrounding circumstances. One person's CoC might be a wash, but another's might be a jackpot waiting to be mined. We have the opportunity to join not just the one local to the city our "shop" is in, but also the one in the city we live in. Each will cost something. Each could bring huge opportunities.... or not. Mostly, we will have to make these decisions based on these factors, as well as our own personal finance comfort level (it is cost-prohibitive to join either right now. First of the year, who knows?).

I appreciate everyone's input!