In this economic downturn, we are all looking for ways to become more efficient and reduce expenses while at the same time position ourselves to flourish when the economy picks up again. That’s true if you are a sole proprietor or a multinational corporation, a non-profit or a government body.

 

What’s interesting in times like these is that perhaps more than ever, the Marietta Area Chamber can become your best business partner and promoter. As the old adage goes, when times are good, it’s easy to be a good business man or woman. It is when times are tough that truly successful businesses emerge.

 

Here at the Marietta Area Chamber, we want to help you emerge successfully. Here are three Chamber initiatives that will have a direct result on your bottom line success as members.

 

First, are you a member of the Marietta Area Chamber? Second, if so, are you taking advantage of our member discount programs? We can save your company today hundreds, if not thousands of dollars a year on your health insurance, telecommunications services, and workers comp insurance. These savings add up over time and are exclusively for our Chamber members.

 

We are in the business of spreading the word about your business. We offer free links to your web site through www.mariettachamber.com, distribute the membership directory to people and businesses moving into the area, and refer prospects to area businesses dozens of times each day. Each day more than 600 people visit the Chamber website – and they search through the membership directory to find information about our members.  

 

We actively promote doing business with other Chamber members. Networking programs, Business After Hours and Business Expos all help spread the word about your business, your services and your products. Through the Marietta Bucks gift certificate program, more than $140,000 stayed in our local economy in 2009. We encourage members to buy locally by helping our members discover the local suppliers.

 

Independent research from the Schapiro Group shows that when respondents were told that a particular small business was a member of its local chamber, they were 44 percent more likely to rate it favorably than study respondents who were not told of the chamber affiliation. Respondents were also 63 percent more likely to want to purchase goods or services from a small business that is a chamber member. 

 

 

The Marietta Area Chamber works closely with the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority, ReStore Marietta, and our local/state government, to help recruit and retain businesses. A partnership with the Small Business Development Center in Marietta helps us help the start-up business owner.

 

“Growing our own” has long been a crucial component to new job creation in the Mid-Ohio Valley.  In early 2010 newly-founded Cool Containers was nominated by the Marietta Area Chamber for the Ohio Chamber’s Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award. What a proud moment when Cool Containers was announced as the winner of this prestigious state-wide competition with a grand prize of $25,000.

 

Working together to ensure more success stories like Cool Containers will mean more customers with more buying income for your business whether your markets are consumers or other businesses.

 

Reducing your business expenses. Marketing your company. Attracting high wage jobs for future growth. These are three tangible ways the Marietta Area Chamber promises to help our members succeed in today’s economic climate.