Who do you do business with?

I pulled out a national study yesterday done by The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta-based market research firm. The study was completed last year I believe to determine the impact Chambers of Commerce have on their member businesses.

The study confirmed consumers are 63% more likely to buy from Chamber members. The results of the study were clear that positive perception increases among consumers and business owners when a business is identified as a member of the local chamber of commerce.

We've been giving this study out to perspective members for a while now, but it was a good reminder to me as to the perception people have of Chambers of Commerce.

People to business with those the KNOW, LIKE and TRUST. Trust...This study indicated people were 58% MORE LIKELY to think positively of a business’s reputation because they are a member of their local Chamber.

Once again, the question comes back to not if you CAN afford to be a member of your local Chamber, but whether you can afford NOT to be a member. As businesses struggle to find new ways to generate business through their doors, they should start by putting a membership sticker on that door to show they are members of a local chamber of commerce. May just be the deciding factor as to whether or not that customer will purchase product from that business or not.