The Value of your Chamber Membership

Workforce issues are one of the Chamber's key focus areas. If it's important to you (and we know it is) we want to offer you options and solutions. Why am I a member of the Chamber of Commerce? I'm sure many of you have asked yourselves this very question, especially when it comes time to pay those dues. Recently the Schapiro Group published a study identifying the "real" value of being a chamber member.

You should consider your chamber membership a business strategy. The study found that most consumers (59%) think that being active in the local chamber of commerce is an effective business strategy overall and when a consumer finds out that a company is involved in its local chamber they are 19% more likely to think favorably of that company regardless of their degree in chamber involvement.

Large businesses are recognized favorably by consumers for their involvement in the chamber. When consumers know that a large business is a member of the chamber, they are likely to patronize the company more often, they have more favorable opinion of the company, and want to buy more from that company. For instance, when a consumer knows a restaurant franchise is a member they are 50% more likely to eat at the franchise more often. Another example, when consumers know that an insurance company is a chamber member they are 43% more likely to consider buying insurance from it.

Small businesses receive a greater favorability among consumers for being chamber members than large businesses. In the survey conducted by the Schapiro Group, small businesses enjoy a 44% increase in its consumer favorability rating and a 51% increase in consumer awareness. Small businesses receive a 57% increase in local reputation, and a 63% increase in the likelihood that consumers will patronize the business in the future.

Next time you question your membership look at your Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce member plaque with pride and know that you have made an excellent business decision. Based on the research presented by the Schapiro Group know that your Chamber membership is worth far more to your customer than you could have ever imagine.