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Study says Chamber Membership is Good for Your Business
Darlene Kerr | Fri, November 16th, 2007

If there’s one thing that businesses…all businesses want to achieve, maintain and benefit from it’s a great name and a positive image in the community.  It’s true for businesses of all sizes, from single proprietors to large multi-national corporations.

A national study by The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta-based market research firm, reveals a number of important findings about how consumers and business owners perceive the local chamber of commerce and the businesses that are their members.  For example:

- When consumers know that a business is a member of the local chamber, they are 44 percent more likely to think favorably about it.
- Consumers who are told that a business is a chamber member are 51 percent more likely to be highly aware of it and 57 percent are more likely to think positively of its local reputation.
- Consumers are 63 percent more likely to buy goods and services in the future from a company that they believe is a member of the local chamber of commerce.

The study also has good news for businesses that sell to other businesses.

- When business decision-makers believe that a business is a chamber member, they are 37 percent more likely to think favorably of the business, 51 percent more likely to be highly aware of it, 58 percent more likely to think positively of its local reputation, and 59 percent more likely to buy goods and services from it.

Supporting the previous findings, the study also reveals a positive perception for the local chamber itself:

- Regarding the chamber’s impact on the local economy, 82 percent of respondents believe that the local chamber of commerce helps create jobs and promotes local economic development.

Additionally, the study indicates that larger companies and organizations can also benefit from chamber membership.  The biggest advantage is the lobbying power that comes along with being a member of such a large organization.

The results of the Schapiro study are clear: Positive perception increases among consumers and business owners when a business is identified as a member of the local chamber of commerce.

And, there’s no better way to make a great name for yourself and your company than by becoming an active member of the chamber.  Membership in the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce not only reflects well on your business…it will shine on your bottom line. For more information on Chamber membership, please call us at (315) 470-1810.

A detailed copy of the study can be found at http://www.acce.org/index_ektid6416.aspx.




Main offices:
5910 Firestone Drive Syracuse, New York 13206
Phone, Fax and Email:
(315) 434-1988 (315) 434-8883 jmartell@cnylink.com