Local chambers of commerce seem to have lost their relevance in today’s business world. Here are 3 problems they need to overcome–fast.
For some time I’ve been thinking seriously about local chambers of commerce and their role in today’s business world. For centuries, chambers served as an essential member of the local business community, providing valuable advice, relationships and access to government officials. The first local chamber in the U.S. launched in New York in 1768 and was chartered by King George III. The business world has changed significantly since our colonial days, but many of the 5,000 active chambers in the U.S. have failed to adapt to today’s reality and in effect have made themselves irrelevant in the eyes of many business owners.
I was reminded of this disconnect recently when I saw a post on my Facebook newsfeed from a chamber of commerce offering members and non-members alike an all-inclusive, 8-day trip to Cuba for “only” $3,999. How exactly is a thinly disguised vacation to Cuba going to help a dentist on Main Street obtain more business? Or how will it help a construction company learn the local permitting process? Yet like many chambers, this one has decided to divert resources toward something that offers no relevant value to their constituency—local business owners. This reminded me of another chamber with which I used to work that decided to pivot from offering an annual business fair to launching a food festival—for foreign chefs!
Many chambers I have engaged with around the country complain about similar problems: low turnout at events, membership dues in arrears and a lack of new membership. Perhaps, like other small businesses, they should take declining revenues and relevancy as a sign that they aren’t offering customers what they want.
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