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Prospecting - Chamber of Commerce Question

by Neodism
7 replies
I am looking at a city online and I think that it will be a good place to try to start my offline business. It has about 50,000 people and a college so I feel like it will work very nicely with absolutely any form of coupon marketing.

I was wondering, though. If a business is registered with the chamber of commerce, does that make it privately owned? Or can it be a corporate store and still be with the chamber?

I'm trying to find privately owned businesses because they are the only ones I can sell my service to. I'd rather not have to call every business and ask if they are privately owned or corporate. =/
#chamber #commerce #prospecting #question
  • Profile picture of the author dsprank
    Originally Posted by Larches View Post

    I am looking at a city online and I think that it will be a good place to try to start my offline business. It has about 50,000 people and a college so I feel like it will work very nicely with absolutely any form of coupon marketing.

    I was wondering, though. If a business is registered with the chamber of commerce, does that make it privately owned? Or can it be a corporate store and still be with the chamber?

    I'm trying to find privately owned businesses because they are the only ones I can sell my service to. I'd rather not have to call every business and ask if they are privately owned or corporate. =/
    Any business can be part of the Chamber of Commerce. They not too fussy when it comes to taking money either.
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  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    There are corporation chains part of different chambers... pretty much anyone can join it seems.

    I'm curious though... why can't you sell to corporations?
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Don't ignore corporate prospects unless there's some legal reason you have to do so. Just because there's a head office doesn't mean the local leader doesn't have some budgetary discretion.

    I was working with a sales trainer a couple years ago and a branch office of a well-known control equipment firm came up on my list. My boss told me that they must have their own internal sales training. That it wasn't worth going after. Well that's the kind of thing that makes me do a close-lipped smile, get the steel glint in my eye and reach for the phone.

    The branch manager there said, "WOW! I've never heard a 30-second commercial delivered that way! I wish my guys sounded like that!"

    I scheduled the appointment and off we went.
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  • Profile picture of the author drlelong
    Try visiting local BNI chapters or meeting with the local small business development agency. Create some free online video training and make it avaiilable to them as a resource and as a lead generator.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lina T
    Also be sure to talk to the reps there (preferably in person) so that you can build a relationship with a contact (or two) there - they can be such an awesome source for referrals and marketing. Some years back, they referred me to a reporter doing a piece for the Chicago Sun Times that featured 30 promising entrepreneurs under 30 - I would have never been in that piece if it were not for the people at the chamber that I connected with regularly.
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  • Profile picture of the author AMABIZ
    Anyone can be a part of their local Chamber. They are usually VERY helpful and I'm sure a rep would meet with you to discuss your marketing interests. Of course, keep in mind, their alliance is to gain and maintain local business interests. I use them all the time when I'm reviewing real estate (lease opportunities) in cities that I'm not familiar with. Good luck !
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  • Profile picture of the author jayspann
    I've got a ton of business from chambers in the past. They already have a sales force in place promoting their own services so team up with them.

    Offer to do XYZ for them if they will promote said service to their new and current members.

    My big break-thru came from doing chamber sponsored speaking events. I struck a deal with the chamber to handle the whole event. Promotion, planning, space, money, etc and gave them 50% of the revenue. All I did was show up

    Hope that gives you some ideas.

    Jay
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