2009 survey results Member surveys board surveys What

2009 survey results -Member surveys - board surveys

What IS the Chamber of Commerce? “A strong entity within a community that has the ability to strengthen, develop and support a strong economic environment. A leader in the community not a follower. ” “The pulse of the business community. ” “An organization that should represent our members and Craig with the utmost care, positive attitude, and desire to serve. Stand above reproach to where character and ethics is never a question. ” “An organization that gives a diverse group of businesses a common voice and a place to come together. ” “The hub of the community. The go-to place. ” “The Chamber of Commerce is a form of business network(a local organization of businesses) whose goal is to further the interest of businesses with economic development and to help further their achievements for a stronger community. ” “It can be a gateway to the community. What there is to do and see. Also if there is a product or service that you should need, the chamber should have an idea of who and where to start. ”

What do well as a Chamber? The Chamber is highly visible, active, well supported Visitors center, aid to the hunters, and visitors. The new Web site and information packets. Mixers, Wake-up Craig breakfasts, Crabfest and State of the County Business seminars Good event planners Continually working and reviewing membership benefits with businesses and keeping them members. Working with other organizations to continue supporting the business community. Director is in the community and Chamber has a presence Provide several networking opportunities in differing venues. The Craig Chamber has brought stronger unity to the community.

Why did you join the Chamber? Other: • Learn about new businesses coming into area, knowledge of job market. • It’s good business • Referrals

What Chamber services do you use?

Rank the value of existing services Website Business cards at Chamber Visitor Information Business support services

Rank the value of existing services (2) Economic development Community involvement Educational seminars Legislative advocacy

Rank the value of existing services (3) Networking Newsletter

What do you hope to see from your business in the next 5 years? Other RETIRE More community awareness of service provided Expanding from SS to Craig Stay open Increase in visibility and clients Depends entirely on economy Visibility

If you want to expand your business, what factors are preventing or influencing that? Other: • The economy (x 4) • City building officials • Customers

What can the Chamber do help you meet your needs as a business? Chamber should continue to grow and prosper and keep a pulse on the community. I like meeting folks at the mixers on an informal basis. Continue to offer educational workshops/seminars Help make Craig a retail shopping hub for northwest Colorado. We are the only city with a Wal-mart and a Kmart. How do we go about finding the right person for the "correct" jobs? Stop supporting economic development scams, it's a waste of money. Economic development occurs when market conditions are favorable. Studies, analysis, and promotions are all a waste of our money. Promote value of business Provide more opportunities for employees to learn work skills such as customer service, sales, marketing, etc. Continue to monitor and lobby legislative issues.

What can the Chamber do to help meet your needs as a business? (2) Promote, promote the local businesses and shopping local! Emphasize the wisdom of conservation and reuse of resources and the disadvantages of shipping money to Asia. Small business support with government issues. Help with health insurance. Keep doing what you are doing, help get our business names out there. In my opinion, the Chamber should work to increase the amount of retail business done in Craig. The Chamber should get businesses together and advertise Craig as the retail center of the area. Make Wal-mart and Kmart work for the town, not against it. We should work on southwest Wyoming, northwest Colorado and northeast Utah. Recommend our business to potential customers. Personally, we are not in favor of great economic growth in our area as it will bring many problems such as large cities are experiencing. Craig needs to improve current services before it should progress growth-wise.

What can the Chamber do to help meet your needs as a business? (3) More applicable trainings The marketing to newcomers is probably the most valuable to us. Our business is dependent on real estate sales and refinancing. Expand on hosting events, expand on promoting economic development. You're doing a great job. Chamber is much more visible and proactive than it ever has been. Keep doing seminars and mixers. The Chamber's a great tool for meeting people and that helps my business. Do the research so I don’t have to such as the FAQ book, education and marketing opportunities. The Chamber provides a inexpensive way to market and find tools for businesses. Remember that the county businesses and residents support the city. It's not all about the city and the downtown businesses. We are here and just as important.

What is the Chamber’s most useful tool in communicating with you?

Do you read the Chamber’s monthly newsletter?

What information would you expect to see in the newsletter? New members, community activities, happenings, i. e. new businesses opening. I like seeing that the chamber is active in our community through various events/seminars/activities. All of the current activities the Chamber has been doing. The updates as to the board, the new business updates. What is going on in business community, who's new, who went out of business, opportunities for businesses, etc. Upcoming events, ways to get involved or ways to connect with other businesses. Mixers, ribbon cuttings, new businesses, tourism information, legislative info. Benefits to being a member. Possible specials/coupons/etc. A list of every single Chamber member business - just a straight list. Business anniversaries, etc. business activity, new business information I think it comes out in the newspaper but if I don't get it that day then I forget. I wish the Chamber dispersed them other than just through the newspaper.

What information would you expect to see in the newsletter? (2) Listing of current membership is good. Maybe a Christmas/holiday ad in the paper. Even more support for the beautification committee-making Craig a more attractive place that community members will be proud of. Let's get a list in there of all the chamber member businesses. I want to see milestones for our local business community - not just the ribbon cuttings for the new members. I like to have contact info for board members and possibly minutes for the board meetings. All the latest business updates and community events. The Chamber Connection pretty much covers what I would expect. One suggestion might be when noting new members (which gives them some advertising) also picking some longtime members to highlight (to also give them some equal advertising). I like the information it has in it right now. I would like more communication regarding the newsletter, most of the time I miss it in the paper. I would like to be emailed regarding when deadlines are for submitting articles and when the connection will be available to read.

What is your preferred delivery method for the newsletter?

What is your biggest concern as a business owner? Keeping positive attitude for entire community. Finding a way to keep my doors open each and every day. Workforce. Trusted employees are hard to find. The economy and people's perception of it. General local economy. Spending by local people has really dropped off. Skilled workforce. Craig continuing to grow and being innovative and being able to think outside of the box. Lack of jobs and money to spend in this area. Living cost are high making for less money to spend on anything else. Fear of business becoming stagnant and how to expand in a small community without branching too far from our core business. Support by the chamber-recommendation by the chamber

What is your biggest concern as a business owner? (2) Visibility, visibility. If they don't know we are here they certainly won't use our services. Housing industry decline. I want to see the Chamber really promote the businesses who are members to the consumer, not just inside the Chamber membership. Utilize marketing. Have a spotlighted business and spend some $ advertising them in the paper. Do an anniversary ad, etc. I want to see the chamber really market local business and really market shopping local. Uneducated public Knowing the best way to expand or cut costs. Skilled employees. Help with advertising and marketing. Peoples’ fear causing greater recession, thus not having enough customers to stay open. Finding enough funding Community perception of my organization and how to grow and change that

What is your biggest concern as a business owner? (3) I am willing to pay membership dues when I get something in return. I want PROMOTION. I like the Chamber Connection being in the paper where consumers can read it, but I want emphasis on all the businesses in Craig. What if you spotlighted a member business each month, etc. Government demands on small business, increasing taxes and fees that are difficult to pass on, employee turnover. Current national and local employment. The current concern is the economy. We worry about keeping a qualified workforce. Competition from national companies is now taking more of our market than it has in the past; we need to compete with them more effectively. The community is basing it's entire existence on the hunting(finite resource that is quickly depleting) and fossil fuels (also going the way of the doe-doe bird) It is time to think outside the box. We are not, and never will be Steamboat( thank goodness). We have a great many things to offer and need to start promoting them.

What role should the Chamber fill in the community? Front door to the community Information center Member services Help businesses succeed Leader in the business community Provide educational opportunities Provide a forum for ideas and concerns Be involved in community events Should be available, dependable, respected Provide a legislative review of issues of importance

What do members want? Be a voice for the community. Anything & everything that helps our local businesses thrive. To know that we have their best interest at heart and are managing their money well, representing them well and building a strong local economy. A functional chamber that listens and puts forth an effort to address its member’s concerns. Guidance Answers - answers I think other than a few exceptions, members are getting what they want or expect from the Chamber. For a lot of businesses it is not necessarily tangible benefits, but they know the chamber is there if they need them. I think they want education seminars, networking opportunities and a business advocate. I think more business seminars would be good especially in these hard economic times. Keep promoting our area attractions and recreation. We know the support and care the chamber has for our community. Advertising our community and creating activities that encourage outsiders to enjoy it.

Brainstorming Develop the Nourish Your Body, Nourish Your business series Maybe some long term strategy so businesses and the chamber are well prepared when the economy turns around Member education about Chamber services, the value of membership and the details of upgraded packages. Affordable health insurance for small businesses. I think we should keep doing what we are doing. Times are difficult, people are hanging in there and we just need to nurture the members we have and try to continue getting new members through referrals. The one issue that keeps coming up that people may need help with, and I am not sure we can provide, is if some type of health care reform passes, small business may need help sorting the programs. Maybe something like building your business back after a slump or something to that effect. Or diversifying to stay alive. Improve the looks of the Chamber building, inside and out. Increase sales tax base: Make Craig a regional shopping hub and encourage people to shop local.

More brainstorming Extended hours of operation at the Visitor center? What kinds of job training programs can we offer? How can partnerships with CNCC or the high school business classes be used to serve our members or improve the local business climate? Small intimate group settings with Chamber members (like the breakfast) and board members to discuss concerns. Create an atmosphere where they want to discuss things no matter the issue and not fear repercussion. Continue to be visible thru educational opportunities, social events, ribbon cuttings, etc. I think that businesses believe the Chamber communicates with other Chambers, watches issues of concern and quietly represents them behind the scenes. I think we are doing a great job and need to continue building on what we have. For example, what educational seminar would be of most benefit to our members? What topic do we cover next? Continue to enroll new members. Continue with mixers and other functions.

Emerging issues Members want: 1) Marketing and promotion for their business 2) The Chamber to be involved in the community/events 3) More and more networking opportunities 4) Business education on topics such as: 1) Basic business practices, workforce education, financial management, planning, financing options for growing businesses, health care options (and as congress deals with health care, education about their decisions. 5) To know what the Chamber does for them and how they can get the most out of their membership. 6) Workforce assistance: How to hire (applicant screening), how to retain good employees, soft skills training of employees. 7) Programs that encourage shopping in Craig targeting locals and regional shoppers.