Chambers fuel business relationships

Networking, forming connections, fostering relationships and supporting local businesses is what chambers of commerce are all about.

Have a business that's new to town? They'll help business owners find their footing and establish themselves in the community. Longstanding company in need of a refresher? Friendly chamber folks are ready to brainstorm and supply resources to breathe new life into businesses in need.

Relationship brokers, communication facilitators, advocates

"Chambers of commerce have a long history that dates back several centuries, with the first one on record being founded in 1599 in Marseilles, France," said Linda Coppess, president and CEO of the Coeur d'Alene Regional Chamber. "These early chambers primarily served as forums for merchants and traders to discuss common issues, set trade standards and promote economic interests, focusing specifically on local and regional economic development."

Modern chambers are critical for facilitating communication and collaboration among businesses and the community as a whole, Coppess said.

"We are connectors and business relationship brokers," she said. "When businesses become members, some of the first questions we ask are, 'Who is your target audience? How do you currently reach and build relationships with them? Who would you like to meet?' We have a bustling and loyal regional member community. Our members love to support one another and our Coeur d'Alene Regional Chamber team does a wonderful job of personally connecting our members with their target audience in our community."

For the Coeur d'Alene Chamber, a nonprofit, the members are the mission. It is the largest local business association that brings together a large breadth of large and small businesses across industries as well as other nonprofits.

"With over 870 members and growing, when businesses join our chamber, they have the opportunity to connect with a highly targeted membership of regional business leaders," Coppess said. "This ultimately helps to extend their reach in our region."

Chambers also advocate for their members, Coppess said, by promoting their businesses, brands, services and products throughout the region. New benefits coming in 2024 will promote members in innovative new ways through more modern content, leveraging digital channels.

The Rathdrum Area Chamber of Commerce also prides itself on giving members access to valuable resources, networking opportunities to build relationships and community events that can help businesses increase business and market themselves better.

"When it comes to welcoming new businesses to our chamber, we have a great onboarding team that includes ambassadors and chamber staff to make introductions, provide support, distribute helpful business information in new business packets and much more," said Rathdrum Chamber Executive Director Ashley Cameron.

As the Rathdrum area has continued to grow, the chamber continues to operate as a sort of "boutique chamber," she said.

"We are able to look at businesses case by case, to offer unique ways and connections that directly correlate with their specific business," she said. "We understand that a blanket membership structure does not necessarily work for every business. Depending on what the business target demographic is, we suggest different unique marketing options for each. We love marketing businesses at local events throughout the year, and strategic marketing using social media to help introduce them into the community."

Revitalize and mobilize

When it's time for a pick-me-up to bring eyes back to a longstanding business or organization, Cameron said the Rathdrum Chamber has been known to throw celebrations for milestones.

"We love ribbon cuttings as much as the next person, but there is something special about celebrating a business in our community for over 20, 40 or even 60 years," she said. "When a business is looking for revitalization, we work with them on different marketing avenues to reintroduce them to our community, or in our specific case with our population increase, introduce them and connect them with new residents."

Coppess said her chamber has a number of ways to help. The primary strategy has been to help businesses realize when revitalization opportunities arise. Coppess used the Coeur d'Alene Chamber as an example, as it has been in revitalization mode for the past two years.

It starts with being a great listener, she said.

"One of our core values is to listen intently to the needs of our community," Coppess said. "Businesses should start by conducting a listening tour with their current customers, former customers and prospective customers, as well as their suppliers and strategic partners."

Find out what they like and don’t like and hear their ideas for how the business should evolve.

"Getting a 360-degree view from your target audience and partner ecosystem will help you uncover your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats," she said. "Once you have this, you can build out your revitalization plan and top strategies to get there. I tell our members all the time — feedback is a gift, both positive and negative. The information you can gather is the most important to help guide your plan." 

‘Be there for the businesses’

To Juli Zook, in many ways, running the Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce is like hosting a good party.

As the host, you want to make sure everyone has a seat at the table and is having a good time. The experience you create with your friends and neighbors cultivates the business culture and sets the tone for the area.

“I really just appreciate when people come together and want to make it more appealing and more attractive. Everybody wants to build others up,” Zook said.

As the first vice president of the Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce, she believes that “Love Local” and other business initiatives create a stronger bonded community, builds up not only local relationships, and also creates a shared vision for the community’s future.

“We’re getting in new businesses, and one of the big blessings with us is we’re on I-90. We’ve got a lot going for us and We just see a lot of positive things coming,” Zook said.

Zook and her fellow chamber members have viewed the area's growth with excitement as newer businesses like Radio Brewing and national chains like Tractor Supply and Grocery Outlet have made a splash in Kellogg.

“The main goal is to be there for the businesses. Businesses that have been here forever, they’re setting a really good example. The ego is hopefully gone and we just want everybody to survive and thrive,” Zook said.

Tourism the aim for Wallace Chamber

As the proclaimed “Center of the Universe,” visitors drawn to the city’s local history and sense of fun have been a large part of what drives the local economic scene. Valerie Finlay said as the president of the Wallace Chamber of Commerce, its local partnerships and online engagement have provided a recipe for success. 

“The chamber works very closely with the Coeur d'Alene Visitors Bureau to network with other organizations and members to promote the Wallace area,” Finlay said.

The chamber focuses on direct locals and visitors alike in what’s happening each week with its Wallace Wednesday newsletter. Social media has also been a boon in staying connected and promoting tourism and the storied history of Wallace and the surrounding Silver Valley. 

“My goal as the president of the chamber has been reaching out using social media platforms to bring more revenue to local business owners and members,” Finlay said.

The entire city of Wallace, Idaho is on the National Register of Historic Places and even the Wallace website, wallaceid.fun has a bit of that unique style that makes Wallace unlike anywhere else.

The power of networking

Networking and connecting businesses to their communities is the biggest role for a local chamber, said Kate McAlister, president and CEO of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce.

"Our chamber is a non-political chamber, so we are focused on marketing and promotion for our small businesses," McAlister said. "We hold a monthly luncheon, business after hours, ribbon cuttings and two events which brings the town together. With the invention of social media, a lot of businesses think they don’t need our help, but they do. I would highly recommend hiring an employee who is well versed in social media and digital marketing."

She said the No. 1 trick for businesses to garner higher visibility is to get involved in their communities.

"It’s one thing to join a chamber, but businesses need to be involved," McAlister said. "You can’t just pay and walk away and think the chamber is going to do everything for you. Take advantage of the networking opportunities, sponsor events, get the word out."

She said she firmly believes the old adage, "A rising tide floats all boats."

"We are all in this community together, an we should collaborate and partner as often as we can," McAlister said.

   For the Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce, Love Local events have been a great way to prop up partnering businesses and strengthen ties to their community.
  

    Rathdrum Chamber members gather for a networking and membership appreciation event.
  

    The Wallace Chamber of Commerce concentrates on marketing the unique sense of playfulness and fun that drives tourism to the proclaimed "Center of the Universe."