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Membership

You may think your schedule is demanding enough, and the thought of adding one more activity to your day is impossible, but consider the Chamber as your ultimate tool for success both personally and professionally.

So “Why join and actively participate in their local chamber of commerce?”

Because membership in the local chamber offers numerous benefits and keeps business owners on top of important, ever-changing issues and trends within their community and local marketplace.

Research points out those consumers more likely to do business with a company if it’s a member of their local chamber of commerce.

According a research study by The Shapiro Group, Inc. and Market Street Services, when consumers know that a small business is a member of their local chamber of commerce, they are

  • 44% more likely to think favorably of the business
  • 63% more likely to purchase goods or services from the business in the future.

Consider the following:

  • 59% of consumers think that being active in the local chamber of commerce is an effective business strategy overall.
  • If a company shows that it’s highly involved in its local chamber (e.g., sits on the chamber board), consumers are 12 percent more likely to think that its products stack up better against its competition.
  • When a consumer thinks that a company’s products stack up better against the competition because the company is highly involved in its local chamber of commerce, it is because he or she infers that the company is trustworthy, involved in the community and is an industry leader.

Membership brings credibility to your business, visibility in the community, new relationships with like-minded business professionals, potential for new customers, a voice in government and abundance of new opportunities to advertise and market your business.

Keep in mind, however, that you can’t just be a member of the local chamber to reap the benefits of chamber membership. Paying your annual dues just isn’t enough. You must also make an investment of time and effort in chamber activities and become involved. Simply put, what you get out of chamber membership is directly relative to what you put in.

 

If you would like to learn more about the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce, attend one of our monthly Chamber 411 events, held every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 10:30 am – 11:30 am at our Chamber office, located at 8617 West Point Douglas Road, Suite 150, Cottage Grove, MN 55016 or contact our Executive Director, Jennifer Wenshau at (651) 458-8334 / office@cottagegrovechamber.org.