Can a Chamber of Commerce Boost Your Business?

Chambers of commerce have been around since the early 17th Century.

From that time on, well into the 20th Century, business leaders banded together in these groups to advocate for advantageous market conditions.

While chambers of commerce clearly played a role in society for over 300 years, what can they do for business owners in 21st Century America?

A lot, according to a couple small integrators from New York. They can each attest to the benefits of being active in the community.

Nick Vecchioli believes custom business begins and ends with relationships. And he finds plenty of hands to shake by remaining involved in his small Finger Lakes community.

Co-owner of Canandaidua, N.Y.-based Image Audio, Electronics and Home Theater, Vecchioli points to his relationship with the local Chamber of Commerce as being a solid source of referral business.

"We're certainly active chamber members," he says. "The most important thing for me is to stay in front of customers."

In addition to Image's installation services, the company offers pro sound services as well. It leverages those services through the Chamber in order to generate contacts.

"We do the audio for the large annual Chamber event," he explains. "The Chamber has been using us for eight years. People will recognize us, or they'll ask us about what we do."

Tim Palladino is a self-professed "neo tradesman" with Maven Audio Visual in Dutchess County, N.Y. He, too, has found great success in working with his local Chamber of Commerce.

According to Palladino, the networking alone pays for the dues. "I personally pay the chamber $325 a year," he says. "The Chamber offer free courses on how to network. It's good information."

Moreover, Palladino says his area Chamber does a lot to promote his work. "Every time we launch a new service or technology," he says, "they include us in their newsletter."

Palladino says that newsletter blurb has really paid off. "There are 1700 [Dutchess County] Chamber members, and the newsletter is sent out to 2,000 people," he says. "It creates a good buzz."

Palladino says the blurb's success led him to purchase advertising space in that newsletter. For $1,200, Maven ran a Christmas special in the Chamber newsletter.

"We had a special on Lutron systems. We had a free wall mount with the purchase of a TV. Free Xbox 360 with a complete home theater system."

The pay off? "One big job came of it. It was a diamond in the rough. I'd say we made 20-fold the cost of the ad."

Palladino says the Chamber of Commerce is a good source because "you know the members have money."

Another benefit, he says, is the ability to meet people. "I've met most of the members. It's good because you get to put an image to your work."