Chamber Of Commerce

slickshift

Anyone here a member of their local C of C?
The people at the C of C here in my new town seem very freindly and have been very helpful with my move and encouraging about me bringing my business here

If anyone has any experience with their C of C, good or bad, I'd like to hear it

Thanks In Advance

Bob Kovacs

C of C's vary greatly from town to town. In some, they're the cornerstone of all activity- everyone belongs, everyone refers everyone else, and everyone calls them if they need some work done. In other towns, they're useless for anything but throwing away a few hundred dollars a year in membership fees.

The only way you'll know how useful your local C of C is will be to talk to a number of members in similar (and different) lines of business to yours, and see if they feel they truly benefit from membership.

Bob

skylands

I'm the VP of my local C of C.

Like any other organization, we have our movers and shakers and we have those who sit on the outside and bitch about every move we make.

The best thing any business person can do is get involved with your community in one way or another. Join the C of C or Rotary or Knights of Columbus or whatever. Just get involved. I also strongly suggest that business people get elected to town boards. I grew up in a small town in NJ that somehow got taken over by a group of retired people who did absolutly nothing to bring in new business. They got stuck in some time warp and the town became a disaster. Only an active business person can bring valuable things to the plate.

I better get off this soap box.

GEB7678

C of C here in Marlborough is a clicky club full of small town aristocratic stiffs that could care less about a small beans guy like myself, unless its dues time.

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Mike Finley

Which one? Around here we have the black chamber of commerce the women's chamber of commerce, the internet chamber of commerce the spanish chamber of commerce the Colorado chamber, the denver chamber, the littleton chamber...

I'll join when they form the "40 year old white guys trying to make a living chamber of commerce"

slickshift

Which one?
That One!

nadonailer

I love our Chamber here - they are really into the small town referal thing and are a political force as well. Fun parties too!
I was on the board for a few years and even Prez for a year (yes, me)
I think its very worthwhile, but as was mentioned, it depends on the city. Small town chambers are probably a better bet, instead of getting lost in the shuffle with a big city one...?

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Tom R

Not so fast there, sky-meister, - - what town in NJ was that??

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slickshift

I've been down there a few times
They seem like good people
Guess I really won't know unless I join, seems like they can vary depending on the people

I should probably ask some members what they think
He gave me a list of members

Thanks for the input

skylands

Tom

I grew up clear on the other end of where you are. The hills of Sussex County. But I spent a lot time in your neck of the woods. My brother lived in Yardly for 20 years and my wife's cousin is from Willingboro.

Besides. NJ just aint that big to start with.

Tom R

Interesting, - - yeah, Yardley's nice as hell, - - Willingboro's been kinda' going downhill for years.

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Grumpy

The chamber of commere wont work unless you work it. That's been my experience. You need to show up for the meetings and network. I might get one lead a year if I am lucky, and usually those come from out of staters who are buying a house in the area and know it needs work... not my target market.

If you've got time to go to the meetings and free lunches and golf outings, I think it is worth joining.

LandscapePro

Granted COC's vary from town to town, even more so from one part of the country to another I am sure. There is no doubt some are better than others.

That being said, In my part of the country there hasn't been the First Single Solitary Tax I've seen any COC come out in opposition to. It matters not what the new tax or the tax increase pertains to, they are all for it and lobby to see it happen.

In addition to being a Landscape Contractor, I'm also the owner of a retail / wholesale business.

Until such time as I see these guys support the defeat of some of these taxes, I've got no use for them at all. They don't help my business. They only help to increase my tax burden.

Not an argument, I didn't come to feel this way overnight. Just my opinion of the COC's in my neck of the woods.

Mike
La. Landscape contractor #2576

Teetorbilt

Ours is quite active in politics. We were members for years. They changed, we changed.......

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slickshift

The C of Cs seem to run the gamut
"Useless" to "A Force"
This is interesting

slickshift

That doesn't make sense
Aren't there any business people in the Chamber of Commerce?

LandscapePro

Slickshift,

I agree is doesn't make sense. Yes, there are business people in the chamber. However, once you start talking "matching state funds" common sense goes out the window for these people.

Politicians make promises, the COC smiles and pushes for the new tax or tax increase.

I've yet to see them do anything else.

Like I said....the COC varies from place to place. Mine's just not worth a hoot!....

Mike
La. Landscape Contractor #2576

Paul Burns

I think Grumpy and someone else said it best. COC works if you work it! Hmm, I think a friend of Bill's told me that too.

But seriously, most of the COC tip groups that I have been to in small and big towns, we were the only painters and maybe the only construction type business at all. That can be a good thing. If you go to the tip group meetings, within about 6 months, you will have 30-60 or more people that have your cards and will refer you.

Here in KW, we have only gone to 2 meetings and have recived about 20K in referrals. That's 2 meetings out of about 30 that we have missed.

I am also convinced that WOM marketing is by far the cheapest and most efective marketing that there is. It used to be that you could find a company to mail out 1-5000 post cards per week and sit back and count the leads. It doesn't work like that anymore. We have to learn to do the things we don't like to do. But once you get to know those people and figure out how much money they are making you, it can become a lot of fun! And, you might even be ble to make a difference in your community.

Tip groups are great, especially when you are the only trade in there. It may feel awkward, but it is WORTH every dime and minute!

COC, Kiwanis Club, and any other group can by themselves give you all the leads you need IF you make your company visible and likable to them. It's just that simple. IMO

Paul

Paul