The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce is in the midst of its 2012 new membership drive and the benefits of a chamber membership have never been better.
With its 151 members, the chamber invites businesses, industries, organizations and individuals to consider a membership this month.
Several benefits come with a Bluffton chamber membership. New members who join in February receive a 10 percent discount in their 12-month membership.
Additional benefits offered by the chamber more than make up for the annual membership dues. These include a free social media one-on-one consultation, free monthly breakfast, free booth at the Bluffton arts and crafts show, free attendance at various workshops held during the year, plus many others.
For additional benefits open the attachments to this story.
Core chamber benefits follow:
1 - Social media one-on-one consultations. Members may schedule a free consultation on social media this winter with Emily Turner, Bluffton University chamber intern. She will meet with you individually or with small groups from your business or organization. Based upon our own research, this benefit's value is from $50 to $200 per hour.
2 - Free monthly breakfast. Our breakfast meetings, from September to May, include a complete free breakfast, served by Richland Manor. Our breakfasts average 70 per attendance this year. It's a great place to meet other chamber members and discuss business. How much would you pay for a breakfast in a restaurant? $6.50 or more? If you attend nine breakfasts at a $6.50 value, this benefit is worth $58.50.
3 - Free booth in the spring arts and crafts show. All chamber members have an opportunity to have a free15- by 10-foot booth in the May downtown arts and crafts festival. In return, the chamber creates an event to attract hundreds of persons to Bluffton. This is your free opportunity to promote your business - have a drawing for prizes, offer give-a-ways, sign up customers. This is a $40 to $50 value. ($40 charge before May 1; $50 for after May 1.)
4 - Free workshops on topics of special interest. In cooperating with Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs, the chamber offers several free workshops each year. These follow the monthly chamber breakfasts. Recent workshop topics have included:
oQuickbooks - presented by a Quickbooks certificated instructor
oTaxes for small businesses - presented by a CPA
oSocial media overview - presented by social media professionals
oIntellectual property (patents, trademarks, licensing) - presented by a patent attorney.
You would pay between $50 and $100 or more to attend any of these workshops outside Bluffton.
5 - Group advertising opportunities. In 2011 and again in 2012 the chamber will reserve several pages in the Lima-Allen County Visitor's Guide. This full-color 8 1/2 by 11 inch guide has 48 pages and a press run of over 30,000. If you advertise by yourself, the smallest ad available is one-quarter page at $450. The Bluffton chamber will reserve several pages and divide them into smaller units, giving you $199 ad sizes - plus your ad will be listed next to other Bluffton businesses. Last year's savings benefit was a minimum of $251.
6 - Bluffton's 2013-14 visitor's guide. In 2011 the chamber created its first Bluffton visitor's guide.This is a 40-page, full-color guide. Chamber members will receive discounted prices to advertise in the next guide of $20 or more per ad. Your business directory listing is free, an additional $10 savings.
7 - Bluffton University business showcase. Each September the chamber invites Bluffton businesses to provide a display of their products to all students at Bluffton University during an afternoon. Over 500 students participate. Chamber members receive a $15 savings on the cost of a table at the showcase.
8 - Blaze of Lights. The chamber spends several thousands of dollars to promote Bluffton during Thanksgiving and Christmas. We plan the best small-town parade in northwestern Ohio, bring Santa Claus to town, place media ads in area radio stations and newspapers inviting people to Bluffton and provide free maps showing locations of Christmas light displays in our community. Over 400 maps were given away free this year. Chamber members have an opportunity to be listed in ads, posters, maps and other publicity.
9 - More free benefits
o All chamber members are listed on the membership page of www.explorebluffton.com. Your listing is linked to your website. The chamber's website is experiencing up to 400 visits per month. The site is updated weekly.
o Thanks for chamber member AEP, chamber members receive up-to-the-minute high wind, tornado, heavy rain, ice and winter weather warnings via e-mail.
o Thanks to cooperation with Bluffton police, chamber members receive e-mail tips on scams, cons and shop-lifting warnings.
o You may participate in the chamber's gift certificate program. Gift certificates encourage purchases in Bluffton chamber businesses.
o Chamber members receive a free weekly e-mail newsletter. It provides business updates, calendar listings, and goes to an audience of over 350 persons.
o Chamber members are part of an organization of nearly 150 members - the highest in several years. We continue to add new members throughout the year.
Coming in 2012 and beyond...
The following projects are in the planning stages this year:
Downtown retail planning session
o a meeting for all downtown retail business owners this winter. The meeting will discuss common issues among retailers and will create promotion plans for 2012.
Federal Express
o working with Federal Express to locate a drop off box in Bluffton, or to establish a business as a Fed Ex partner.
Summer activities
o working on a 2012 downtown summer concert series. Plans are to announce these dates well enough in advance to allow businesses to consider special-event evening hours or other promotions.
Bluffton tee-shirt project
o working to create an official Bluffton tee-shirt. The project serves as a chamber fundraiser. Money raised will remain in Bluffton.
Interstate 75 promotions
o dreaming stage - a billboard promoting Bluffton and an interchange beatification project at both interstate exits.
Memberships levels follow:
o Sole proprietor (or any individual), regularly $50;
with discount, only $45
o Business with 1 to 10 employees, regularly $80;
with discount, only $72
o Business with 11 to 20 employees, regularly $120;
with discount, only $108
o Business with 31 or more employees, regularly $235;
with discount, only $210
Take the time to open the attachments at the bottom of this story to learn more about the chamber and to access a membership application.
Persons wanting more information may e-mail: [email protected].
