GREATER GREER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
MEMBERSHIP
MANUAL (YOUR GO-TO, EVERYTHING GUIDE TO ALL THINGS CHAMBER)
DEAR
FUTURE CHAMBER MEMBER
The success of your business is something we take very seriously. Every single day we work to ensure a solid return on your membership investment. As you review this packet, you will notice the wide array of ways in which Greater Greer Chamber membership can work for you and your business. While some of the initiatives are carried out with or without your involvement, many of the Chamber’s benefits come from you being active and engaged. You will also notice membership prices are not governed by some overbearing dues structure. We have spent a considerable amount of time making sure our members have options and are able to choose the level of membership that better suits their business needs. We encourage you to be involved and utilize the Chamber staff to make the most of your membership. A return on your membership investment is at the forefront of all we do. We look forward to working for you and serving as the “Champion for economic prosperity for our members and the Greater Greer community.”
By the way, you're reading one of the best membership manuals in the country. No really, ACCE said so.
2015 ACCE Award of Excellence Advertising & Marketing
2015 CACCE Best in Advertising & Marketing
Sincerely,
Mark Owens President/CEO Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce
LET'S GET STARTED
THE TOP 5 PLACES TO MEET OTHER MEMBERS Who says networking is not working?
FIRST FRIDAY LUNCHEON
HANDSHAKES & HASHBROWNS
PELHAM POWER BREAKFAST
CHAMBER LEADS
KEEP THE GREEN IN GREATER GREER
LET US REFER YOU Walk ins, phone calls, relocation packets, the list goes on and on and...
WE'VE GOT RESOURCES Clemson Small Business Development Center
OVER $218,000
Provides free assistance such as funding information, training, business planning, etc.
Workshops & Seminars
RETURNED TO MEMBERS
The Chamber conducts a variety of informational sessions on topics of interest and importance to the business community. Topics have included, "Social Media in Busines," "Sales Strategies," etc.
WE'RE 95% TAX DEDUCTIBLE
BOTTOM LINE BENEFITS Blue Cross Blue Shield
(OUR TWO FULLTIME LOBBYISTS)
Greenville Office Supply Tandem Payment Solutions
WWW.GREERCHAMBER.COM
OH,YEAH
QUESTIONS?
WE ARE THE VOICE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
CHAMBER 101
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
THE TOP 5 WAYS TO MARKET Let's call it your marketing package
01
02
NEWSPAPER
ONLINE
03
VIDEO
04
05
SOCIAL MEDIA MAGAZINE
CHAMBER WEBSITE E-CONNECTION
02 03 04
BUSINESS PROGRESS
WEBSITE: 10,000+ VIEWS/MONTH
PRESIDENT'S PATROL
FACEBOOK: 2,150+ FANS
FACEBOOK • TWITTER YOUTUBE • INSTAGRAM PINTERST
TWITTER: 2,500+ FOLLOWERS
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES IN EXPERIENCE GREER
BUSINESS PROGRESS: 45,000+ HOMES
LET'S TALK NUMBERS
E-CONNECTION: 2,800+ CONTACTS
"I received a 400% return on my investment in real dollars."
CHRIS CRIST, OWENS INSURANCE
"I can track over $40,000 of direct sales for my business from clients I obtained through the networking events."
05
MARK KING, KING CONSULTING
01
WE'RE CERTIFIED RIBBON CUTTING EXPERTS. (OKAY, NOT REALLY)
BUT WE DO HAVE REALLY BIG SCISSORS.
THE TOP 10 REASONS TO JOIN 01
We are your link between your business and the business community within Greer and the surrounding areas. Membership in the Greater Greer Chamber keeps business owners on top of important, ever-changing issues and trends within the community and local marketplace.
02
Research shows that consumers are more likely to do business with a company that is a member of their local chamber of commerce. (According to a study by The Shapiro Group, Inc. and Market Street Services). 44% more likely to think favorably of it and 63% more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future.
03
We market your business through a variety of avenues.
04
We offer our members discounted access to Professional Leadership Development.
05
With over 95 annual networking activities, we initiate more business-to-business commerce and more opportunities for networking and connecting local professionals than is available through most other local organizations.
06
Who you know is often as important as what you know. Let us help to expand your prospect base for new potential customers and vendors through our Business Referral Service. We have hundreds of people walk in, call, email and view our website daily.
07
Join the conversation with a Top 100 Social Media chamber of commerce.
08
We offer our members various avenues of exposure such as: • Website • Business Directory • Presidents Patrol • Community Guide • E-Connection • Program Sponsorships • Ribbon Cuttings • Keep the Green In Greer Gift Card Program
09 10
We can save your business money with our Bottom Line Benefits program. If you do business in or with people who live and work in the Greater Greer area then the Greater Greer Chamber is for you.
ARE YOU SITTING DOWN? THIS NEXT PART WILL MAKE YOU FLIP
Opportunity to spotlight your business in Business Progress insert (Distributed to 45,000+ households)
Full-time lobbyists on behalf of business issues
Chamber membership decal
Constant Contact discounts (up to 25% off)
Savings on office supplies through Greenville Office Supply
Ability to accept Keep Green in Greer gift cards (Over $218,000 worth sold)
Free consultation or low cost business assistance through Clemson Small Business Development Center
3 hours of meeting room space at Chamber ($50 value)
Free Certificate of Origin service ($10/ sheet value)
Free Notary service ($10/ sheet value)
Representatives receive Chamber E-Connection weekly newsletter
Access to virtual panel of experts at no charge
Access to affordable health insurance
New member & renewing members listed in Business Progress insert (sent to over 45,000 households)
Pro Business Advocacy with local and state legislative issues
Free membership with the US Chamber Federation partnership
Access to Chamber social networks (over 3,000 combined followers)
Interactive Chamber badge for website
Opportunity to advertise in Experience Greer magazine (5,000 copies distributed)
Ability to include promotional information in Chamber lobby
Opportunity to join Pulse
Opportunity to sponsor Chamber events
Opportunity to participate in Leadership Greer
Access to President’s Patrol services for no charge
Access to ribbon cutting services for no charge
Free member event listings on member calendar on Chamber website
Ability to offer member to member discounts - promoted on Chamber website
Free job posting on Chamber website (10,000 unique views per month)
Opportunity to join or attend LEADS group (industry specific)
Access to over 100 relationship building events per year
MEMBER BENEFITS
GREATER GREER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CORPORATE PARTNER $ 3,640
REGIONAL LEADER PLAN $ 1,925
CONNECT & BUILD PLAN $ 885
DEVELOP & GROW PLAN $ 545
ENTREPRENEUR PLAN $ 340
Annual Corporate Partner Roundtable
Business insert can be placed into relocation packets and member business information upon request
Seat reserved on Board of Advisors
Company logo displayed in Chamber lobby & at all Chamber events
$300 credit to use toward sponsorship
Complimentary Chamber database mailing list provided with unlimited use
Three additional annual vouchers to the First Friday Luncheon (8 total; $800 value)
Twenty hours of meeting room space in the Chamber conference room ($250 value)
Ten business locations listed on the Chamber’s website
Company logo displayed in 12 editions of Business Progress (distributed to 45,000+ households)
Opportunity to have company logo featured on the website homepage slide for one month
Email to entire membership sent one time per year upon request (2,000+ contacts)
Business insert can be placed into relocation packets and member business information upon request
Complimentary chamber database mailing list provided three times annually upon request
$50 credit to use sponsorship
Three additional annual vouchers to the First Friday Luncheon (5 total; $500 value)
Twenty hours of meeting room space in the Chamber conference room ($250 value)
Six business locations listed on the Chamber’s website
Company name listed as regional leader on Chamber website
Complimentary chamber database mailing list provided two times annually upon request
Additional banner ad on www.greerchamber.com (2 total; $600 value)
$50 credit to use sponsorship
One additional voucher to the First Friday Luncheon (2 total; $200 value)
Twelve hours of meeting room space in the Chamber conference room ($150 value)
Three to five business locations listed on the Chamber’s website
Complimentary Chamber database mailing list provided one time annually upon request ($50 value)
Banner ad on www.greerchamber.com ($300 value)
Annual voucher to the First Friday Luncheon ($100 value)
Addtional 3 hourss of meeting room space in the Chamber conference room (6 hours total; $100 value)
Two business locations listed on the Chamber websites
Vouchers for Chamber programs and sponsorship opportunities
Recognition as a New Member on the Greer Chamber Facebook page & Twitter (Over 3,000 combined followers)
Membership is 95% tax deductible
Ability to host niche networking events
Free ways to advertise your business
Opportunity to update your profile on www.greerchamber.com
GREATER GREER
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
QUESTIONS?
Jodi Fortenberry
DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
111 Trade Street • Greer, SC 29651 P: 864.877.3131, ext. 105 F: 864.877.0961 JODI@GREERCHAMBER.COM Like Us: GREER CHAMBER Tweet Us: @GREERCHAMBER
EXECUTIVE BOARD CH A IRM A N O F T H E BOARD MARK KING K IN G C O N SU L TI N G CH A IRM A N -E L E C T ROS Y L I N W ES TO N GS P I N T ER N A TI O N A L AIRPO RT V I C E C HA IR-F I N A NCE W IL L I A M M A R C U S T H E P A L M ET T O B A N K V I C E C HA IR-L E G I S LATIVE A F F A IRS DO N N A S M I TH BE R K S H I R E H A TH A W AY C . D DAN J OY N ER R EA L T O R S
VICE CH AIR- BUSIN ESS DEVELO PMEN T MIKELLE POR TER GRE E NV IL L E T E CH NI CAL COLLEGE
GEN ERAL COU N SEL BRIAN MARTIN B RI AN A . MA RTI N, A TTORNEY A T LA W
VICE CH AIR- COMMU N ITY E VE NTS R U DY PA IN TER CO U NT Y BANC INS URA NCE, I NC.
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN KE N HARPE R COUNTYB ANK
VICE CH AIR- ME MBERSHIP E XCE LLE NCE CH R IS CR IST O WE NS IN S U RAN CE AGENCY
PARTN ERSHIP FOR TOMORROW CHAIR LARRY WILSON COMMUNI TY LEADER VICE CHAIR-LEADERSHIP DONNY KAUFFMAN CULTI VATE
DIRECTOR TONY KOUS K O L EK AS PELH AM MED I C AL C ENT ER DIRECTOR ANN ANG E R MEI ER UPSTA TE WOR KF O R C E I NVESTMENT BO AR D DIRECTOR APRIL STAG GS GREER STATE BANK DIRECTOR JOHN MANS URE GREER MEMOR I AL H O S P I T AL
BOARD OF ADVISORS R US S E LL A S HM OR E A S HMORE BROT H ERS
MAYOR RICK D ANNER C ITY OF GREER
D AV E ED W ARD S GS P I N TE R N A TI ON A L A I R P OR T
W I L L I AM GRAD Y GR A DY’ S C L E A N I N G S E R V I C E S
JAC K L U C A S GR A N DS O U T H BA N K
M ELA NIE BA R G E R G REER MID D LE COLLEGE CH ART ER H IG H SCH OO L
SK IP D AV ENP ORT D&D MOTORS
D AV I D EI L L THE C HUR C H A T GR E E R S TA TI ON
M I K E P ENNI NGT O N P UL S E
RO S E MA R C H E K
D EAN HYB L TE N A T THE TOP
S C O TT ST E V E N S YOUR M A RK . CO M
AD EL E L ANGF O RD L A N GFOR D E L E C TR I C , I N C .
JEF F REY M . T U T T L E GR E E R C O M M I SSI O N O F P UB L I C W O RK S
WA YNE BOBO CE N T U RY 3 , IN C. G E OR G E BUR DE TTE G REER ST AT E BAN K R OY Z. CHA M LE E M I CH ELIN N O RT H AMERIC A, I NC.
RENO D EATON GREER DEVEL OPMENT C ORPORATION
RO B ERT A EV ANS B M W M A N UFA C TUR I N G C O.
ROB D EHOLLAND ER DEHOL L ANDER & JANSE FINANC IAL GROUP
L I S A GARL AND S TOM P I N G GR OUN DS C OFFE E & W I N E B A R
ED D RIGGERS C ITY OF GREER
B RENT GARRETT C OUN TYB A N K
C HUC K L ANGS TO N L A N GS TON B L A C K R E A L E S TA TE ANNA L O C K E A .T. L OC KE
MITSUBISHI POLYESTER FILM, INC
AL L P AST C H A I R M E N * AL L E X E C U T I V E B O A R D M EM EB E R S
CHAMBER STAFF Debbie Bateman Director of Accounting
Patty Cornelius Nikki Crabtree Jodi Fortenberry Mark Owens Director of Director of Membership Director of Membership President/CEO Administration Engagement Development
Lynn Pascazio Katie Witherspoon Director of Leadership Director of Communications Development & Events
111 Trade Street • Greer, SC 29651 • Phone (864) 877.3131 • Fax (864) 877.0961 • www.greerchamber.com “The Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to champion economic prosperity for our members and the Greater Greer community.”