Did you know Summerland is unlike any other community in B.C.?
When you take out a business license with the District, you are automatically granted a membership to the Summerland Chamber of Commerce, with no additional membership fee.
This means that whether you run a large company or a one-person home-based business, you walk into the same network of more than 800 businesses, with immediate access to all the benefits that come with a Chamber membership.
Local promotion is one of the most important benefits, with members able to rack their brochures or business cards for free at the year-round Visitor Centre, which also runs a Made in Summerland shop highlighting local artists and authors. Free directory and website listings go a long way to giving businesses an online presence, especially for those who have not yet launched their own websites or social networking pages.
For those who want to go one step further, the Chamber offers paid promotion services including member-to-member e-blasts and web advertising, as well as periodic group promotions for special events. The Chamber’s board room is also available for members to rent for meetings or presentations.
Chamber staff are always looking out for opportunities for Summerland businesses, whether it is access to training programs or new funding announcements. We assemble this information in a monthly email newsletter to members, a one-stop update of the best ways to grow or improve your business.
Nothing is more powerful than person-to-person marketing, so every month the Chamber organizes a Business-After-Business networking function, a chance for members to make the kind of professional connections that can improve their own businesses while also strengthening Summerland’s overall business profile. The next Business-After-Business event is scheduled for Sept. 18 at the Summerland Rodeo Grounds.
Being a member of the Summerland Chamber also gives businesses access to province-wide benefits through the B.C. Chamber of Commerce. This includes a B.C. Chamber Group Insurance Plan, a unique plan in which policy holders are part of a large pool, helping to keep annual individual premium increases low.
Husky/Mohawk, Esso, Petro Canada and Shell all offer Business Card Programs for BC Chamber members, with discounts on gasoline and other services. Then there are hotel discounts, access to discounted merchant services and payroll processing.
Add all the benefits together and small businesses in Summerland have the potential to jointly wave a large flag.
But the biggest benefit to Summerland Chamber members is each other, as they comprise a unique network of businesses that is unmatched in the rest of the province.
If you would like to learn more about Summerland Chamber membership benefits, please e-mail Sophia Jackson at membership@summerlandchamber.com.
Every other week we plan to bring you information about how our local Chamber is supporting our business and community members. We always appreciate your feedback. Please contact me at president@summerlandchamber.com or Christine Petkau at manager@summerlandchamber.com.
Arlene Fenrich is President of the Summerland Chamber of Economic Development and Tourism and the owner of Edgy Petals. All of the members of The Board of Directors serve as volunteers.