Jewelry Store Owners Weigh In About Their Chambers of Commerce and Other Community Groups

question:

Do you participate in your local Chamber of Commerce or other local community groups?

Yes: 61%

• Any healthy relationship goes both ways. If you community supports your jewelry store, it’s only fair you give back to your community with your time and money. Dan Levinson, Ellis Jewelers, Concord, NC
  We are involved in sports associations, serving on their boards, raising money, sponsoring heavily. This works better for us to bring in young men and expand our visibility to a larger group. AND we love the work. We previously belonged to Tri-County and local business groups, YMCA board for 15 years and found them to not benefit us in any way but take up our precious morning time. We do support their fundraisers with donations and best wishes. — Christine M., Boyertown, PA
• I join but never have time to attend their functions. I’m a joiner. I join everything. — Andrea R., El Dorado Hills, CA
• Not the Chamber of Commerce (FAR too clique-y), but I’ve been involved with our local downtown merchant association and Historic Main Street for many years. — Janne E., Cocoa, FL
• Symphony. Great group of individuals. Didn’t realize until I got on the board that they were loyal customers of ours. — Bill E., Terre Haute, IN
• We have a wonderful Chamber that works very hard for the local businesses. I have been a Board Member in the past. Businesses just don’t understand what resources the local Chambers have for them. — Holly M., Astoria, OR
• Good networking to meet other businesspeople in the immediate area with discretionary income. — Jillian H., Coral Gables, FL
• Member of Rotary. Great organization that gives back locally as well as internationally. — Hugh H., Jacksonville, FL
• It’s a great way to solidify your position on the community as an expert. I always have something jewelry-related in my pocket to stun and impress them (large carat loose diamonds, replicas of Super Bowl rings, Rolex watch, etc.). J. Dennis Petimezas, Watchmakers Diamonds & Jewelry, Johnstown, PA
  Mostly because they meet during the workday I can only join a few. — Susan E., El Paso, TX
• I am on the board and have been for many years. It keeps me informed about what’s going on, and I can give opinions based on being a business owner as opposed to someone who is on someone’s payroll. When you are responsible for your own paycheck, it gives you a different perspective on things that affect the community. — Susan K., Lewisburg, PA
• We participate in dozens of community organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, a Business Exchange club, Easter Seals, our hospital foundation, and the United Way. This, in my opinion, is a tremendous way for our store to be top of mind with our customer base. — Gene P., Tuscaloosa, AL

No: 39%

• Semi-retired, and with my business model, I do not have the time. I still make a lot of sales on the golf course. — Frank S., Plantation, FL
• Too much local politics but I do help with fundraisers. — Barry F., Bardonia, NY
• Do not know why, I have been thinking about it for a long time but I never seem to find the time to do it. — Liliana M., East Patchogue, NY
• Whatever time we have outside of work, we want to spend with our family. — Nancy & Pierre P., Swansea, MA
• I tried and meetings were hard to attend, the cost was high and the couple times I did go, it was truly an old boys club. Maybe now that I am an old boy, I might try again. — David B., Calgary, AB
• Waste of time for us. If we were in downtown proper, instead of out in the shopping area, it might be useful. I got tired of the men in the group looking at me as if I just dropped in from Mars when I would talk to them after running into them someplace around town. How can we grow the community when they don’t even know, or care, who is part of the community. — J., Oconomowoc, WI
• I did participate with the Chamber as well as some other groups in the past. I do not any longer as the time commitment was too much and it did not seem to generate enough business. I found that within these groups, a lot of members already have a jeweler that they have worked with for a long time and it is difficult to get them to switch. That said, I play ice hockey, and I believe sports teams are a better way to get clients than these groups, at least for me. I still belong to some charitable organizations but so do some other jewelers. With a sports team, there seems to be a stronger bond and loyalty among teammates. I find this better than a Chamber or BNI group. — Eric S., West Springfield, MA
• No man is an island. But our store is. — Gretchen S., Sherman Oaks, CA