Chamber Benefits
The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce publicizes the activities, achievements, goods, and services of its members through a variety of channels. Special events, trade shows, member recognition programs, as well as various sponsorship, advertising and marketing opportunities abound. Here are some examples:
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Annual Dinner and Awards Program: The Chamber’s annual dinner features installation of new officers for the coming year and recognizes annual award winners and outgoing board members for their service. The Annual Dinner draws nearly 300 people and is always a great networking and entertaining event. Award winners announced at the event are the Industrialist of the Year, Small Business Leader of the Year, the G. Ray Cantrell Service Award, First Citizen Bank’s Amazing Customer Service Award and more.
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Chamber Business Expo: Tradeshows geared toward showcasing our members’ products and services to a wide audience are a great opportunity for business-to-business marketing. Providing a public forum for members to promote their business or organization to area residents, members are encouraged to participate in this low-cost annual event sponsored every fall by the Chamber. Chamber Business Expo provides a unique showcase for all types of business and are an opportune place to network with key decision makers.
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Small Business Week Celebration: During Small Business Week in May, many events are held to recognize the importance and contributions of the small business community to Henderson County. Events include the Blue Ridge Business Growth & Rising Star Awards, the Business and Professional Women’s Luncheon, special seminars and Business After Hours. Guest speakers and small business-focused programs round out the weeklong celebration.
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Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting and Ground Breaking Ceremonies: If you’re opening a new business, relocating, building or expanding, the Chamber will be on hand to perform your ceremony. All Chamber member ceremonies are recognized with an advertisement in the Times-News. New member businesses are featured in the bi-monthly Chamber newsletter, The Chamber Business Report.
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Special Events & Sponsorships: Chamber members aren’t “all work and no play”. Many see the value in participating in our chamber events beyond gain for their business. Each year Chamber members enjoy the Chamber Golf Classic tournament and Gutter Ball Classic bowling tournament. The Golf Classic proceeds benefit the Workforce Development Division of the Chamber, and the bowling tournament proceeds benefit various Chamber services and programs. Among several other events, the Chamber also hosts the North Carolina Scholars Recognition Program and the New Teachers Dinner. Active member participation in these events and others allow the Chamber to continue improving and expanding services and programs for our members.
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Chamber Web Site: You're here! www.hendersoncountychamber.org - In addition to providing area information for those interested in relocation or visitor information, our site lists our full membership in the online Membership Directory section. An added bonus: Chamber members that provide us with their own web site and e-mail information will be provided a FREE link from our site to theirs.
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Identity and Credibility for Your Business: Upon joining the Chamber, members are given a plaque announcing their affiliation with The Chamber. Members are encouraged to display this plaque at their place of business. Chamber membership conveys both trust and credibility to your customers
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Rental Facilities: We offer meeting space rentals in our headquarters at 204 Kanuga Road in downtown Hendersonville. The Macon Bank Executive conference room will seat 10 around the meeting table. The Duke Power Boardroom/First Citizens Multi Purpose room will seat up to 36 at tables and 50 in chairs alone. Please call us for more information.
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Networking Opportunities When asked why they joined the Chamber, most members say "networking." It's true: There is no better way to meet potential clients than through chamber events. Chamber members are notified of regular and special happenings through the e-newsletter, The Chamber Business Report, and through our broadcast email. A current Calendar of Events is available on the chamber website, www.hendersoncountychamber.org. For information on Chamber sponsored events, call us at 828-692-1413.
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Business After Hours: This monthly event ranges in attendance from 75 - 200. All types of businesses are represented, and regulars to the event have formed lasting business relationships through contacts established at Business After Hours. The venue changes from month to month, allowing different host and sponsoring companies to promote their location, product or service. If your business or organization would like to host a Business After Hours, please give us a call.
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Power Networking: Members of the chamber can maximize their networking opportunities and increase business leads by attending one or more of our bi-monthly Power Networking sessions. During these fast paced sessions, members exchange business cards and promotional materials and share information about their business.
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Business Morning Update: This monthly event, co-sponsored with Blue Ridge Community College's Small Business Center, the City of Hendersonville Main Street Program, and the Hendersonville Merchants and Business Association, features several speakers on timely community events and issues affecting the business community. There is also a pre-program networking opportunity.
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Chamber 101: All Chamber members are invited to participate in Chamber 101. Held quarterly, these meetings show members how Chamber membership benefits their business and educates them on Chamber programs and services, encouraging new and existing members to become actively involved to maximize their chamber membership.
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Special Educational Seminars: The Chamber believes that a better-run business is a more profitable business. Topics presented relate to business needs and are geared in content and scheduling to the busy professional. These Chamber-sponsored workshops and seminars relate to key business interests such as labor laws, healthy workplace issues, government regulations and accounting.
Chamber Sponsorship Opportunities
With the high cost of mass media and the fragmenting of media audiences, the Chamber offers cost-effective, targeted vehicles for its members' messages. Sponsoring a Chamber event is one way to get noticed. Another is advertising in Chamber publications. Whether marketing to business or the newcomer market, Chamber publications deliver a targeted audience.
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Advertisements and Announcements in the Chamber Business Report: The Chamber's bi-monthly newsletter is an insert into the Hendersonville Times-News; therefore, it is distributed to their full readership (10,000!). Copies are also available by mail and at the Chamber offices as well as a PDF file of the newsletter on our website. Advertising is available for a nominal charge, and special announcements from Chamber members can be run free of charge (space and timeliness permitting). New members are automatically listed in the Chamber newsletter, as are announcements regarding grand openings, ribbon cuttings and other special ceremonies. The publication keeps members and the general community informed about Chamber news and events.
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Free Website Listing: Chamber membership automatically opens the door to the World Wide Web. Members receive a free listing on the Chamber's website, www.hendersoncountychamber.org. As an added benefit, if you provide your business' website and email information, a free link is provided for your business.
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Henderson County Newcomer's Guide/Relocation Packets: The Chamber mails more than 1800 Newcomer's Guides each year in response to telephone, e-mail and written inquiries from people considering relocation to our area; another 500 are given out in the Chamber office either individually or as part of a Relocation Packet. Information is provided on education, the arts, housing, health care, business, government, recreation and much more - all of the things that go into good living. Display ads purchased in the Henderson County Newcomer's Guide, with a printing of over 25,000 copies, reach thousands of newcomers and prospective residents each year. The Newcomer's Guide is distributed at the Chamber, the Visitors Center, real estate offices throughout the county and distribution racks in key locations. In 2008, it will also be available on the Chamber website as an on-line PDF with click-thru links to the advertiser's website.
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Weekly Chamber E-News: The Chamber strives to keep its members informed. As a member, you will receive our weekly Chamber E-News which keeps you apprised of upcoming Chamber events, timely topics that affect your business and recognition of Chamber members for awards and milestones in their businesses as well as asking for feedback from members on current issues. The e-news is sent to over 1800 members and friends of the Chamber and has sponsorship opportunities that would benefit any business.
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Special Event Mailings and Broadcast Email Services: From time to time, special mailings are sent regarding events, programs and services seeking attendance, participation, and/or sponsorship. Event reminders and meeting notices are sent to members via broadcast email or fax for those who prefer that form of correspondence.
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Chamber Lobby Display Areas: Offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, space is available in the high traffic lobby area of the Chamber to display your company's promotional material. If your business would like to display, please bring us your most current brochures and business cards.
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