Special Events That Helped Save Us

Special Events That Helped Save Us

Special Events That Helped Save Us!

When talking about chamber memberships back in the 1980s, 1990s, and even the early 2000s, one thing was fairly common…membership investments (we called them dues back in those days) were the primary driver of revenue for the organization.  If we had a membership directory, we would sell the advertising and put the directory together, or we’d hire an outside company to sell the advertising, put it together, print it and then deliver it to us…and share a portion of the profits from the ad sales.

A funny thing started happening in the 2000s…consolidations of banks, cutting mid-level employees at larger corporations, reduced volunteer involvement, and an increase in the number of ‘networking opportunities’…and suddenly, chambers of commerce that had become complacent in their operations were finding their relevancy beginning to wane. Special events…business expos, golf tournaments, and awards banquets…all took on greater financial meaning for organizations looking to stand out against networking competition.

The special event was nothing new to chambers of commerce (I mean who didn’t love a good Citizen of the Year banquet?), but up to then, their significance in contributing to the bottom line of the organization was minimal at best.  Themed events began to show significant involvement, growth, and of course financial impact.  The Chamber golf tournament became a Golfing Event complete with contest holes, long drives, and even chances to beat a pro golfer, and suddenly these events were raking in huge sums of money…coupled with live and silent auctions.  Business Expos turned an ordinary trade show into a community-wide event with exhibitors from almost every business category regardless of whether they were business to consumer or business to business…it was another revenue opportunity for the organization to replace lost membership dollars.

Today, special events are still a part of the Chamber of Commerce program of work.  The Granbury Chamber of Commerce holds an annual golf classic that continues to bring 25-30 teams each year.  It’s an important part of the organization’s identity.  These events are great ways to build relationships, and at the same time help the chamber’s bottom line.  However, about 20 years ago, a revolution started happening – first on the west coast, and then in Texas –  that would bring back the focus on chamber memberships.  We still love our events, but recognize that other organizations are competing for the same dollars from businesses in our communities…we must continue to evolve!

Written by Brian Bondy, IOM
Granbury Chamber President and CEO
Membership Is An Investment, Not An Expense

Membership Is An Investment, Not An Expense

Membership Is An Investment, Not An Expense

Membership organizations, like a chamber of commerce, are undergoing dramatic transformations as a number of companies, nonprofits, and service businesses create monthly membership levels as a way to build cash flow and encourage doing business with them.  For decades, there were chambers of commerce, civic clubs like Rotary, Kiwanis, and Optimists as well as fraternal organizations that were membership based.  The proliferation of ‘member benefits’ has caused chambers of commerce to reassess their relationships with their members.

The Granbury Chamber of Commerce spent decades on a membership platform that was based on the number of employees that a business had.  If you had 1-5 employees, members paid the lowest rate; however, if you had 100+ employees, the membership was significantly higher.  The theory was simple—larger businesses can afford to pay more, and if you were a financial institution, not only did you pay a higher rate, but you also paid an amount based on the deposits in your bank.  It was not unusual for banks in the 1990s and early 2000s to pay upwards of $100,000 for chamber memberships in larger metro areas.

Even though memberships were based on the number of employees, the benefits that members received were identical at all levels.  Following the banking crisis in 2008, a significant number of banks began reassessing their investments in local chambers of commerce citing their financial commitment versus their implied benefits.  Thus, the tiered membership concept was born…any business could join at any level based on a series of direct and indirect benefits…the more that the company invested, the greater the number of benefits derived.  With a membership system like this, chambers of commerce quickly found that they could welcome any kind of business seeking membership-based benefits.

When the Granbury Chamber of Commerce transitioned to tier-based membership levels, we found that while most members continued to be basic business members, there were many more that valued the extra benefits that came with one, two, or three-tier higher memberships.  By placing a value on the services provided by the Chamber, we can offer members a variety of marketing options without asking for any additional monies.  This is why we talk about chamber membership as an investment and not an expense…and why joining a local chamber of commerce is still one of the best ways to build visibility for your company.

Written by VYBE Marketing

Short Supplies for Many

Short Supplies for Many

Supply Chain Issues Present Opportunities For Businesses To Work Together

When growing up, I remember going into K-Mart (you remember them?) and being amazed at the amount of merchandise in one place. While my primary goal was looking for baseball cards, there was literally something for everyone in that place.

Wal-Mart came along and took the large amount of merchandise in one place to another level. Since then, Home Depot and Lowe’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, Marshall’s, T.J. Maxx and others have taken the concept of large amounts of merchandise under one roof to incredible levels. Small businesses have also benefitted from access to huge amounts of inventory and many have built their business model on custom ordering for their clients.

A year and a half ago, we were scattering around trying to find paper towels and toilet paper at the onset of the pandemic … and perhaps this was the first time that many consumers were introduced to the concept known as the supply chain. Right or wrong, consumers grew increasingly concerned that these commodities (along with hand sanitizer, wipes and other disinfectants) wouldn’t be available, so they bought in bulk and hoarded to the point of product shortages.

Our dependence on foreign-produced goods exposed a flaw in how we get everyday items from there to our stores’ shelves. Little did we know that this would be the beginning of supply chain issues that we are dealing with today.

Yes, stores began returning to ‘normal’ late last summer and fall, but the foundation was set for more challenges in getting products from overseas manufacturers. Remember, in my last column I wrote about a shrinking labor force that hasn’t been seen in this country’s history … men in the prime working years of their lives aren’t working; women leaving the workforce at levels never seen before. Service jobs, retail jobs, manufacturing jobs, labor jobs … all going unfilled. And, on top of the lack of workers are mandates for vaccinations at multiple levels. So, container ships fill the harbors on the west coast waiting to be unloaded, but trucks and truckers are increasingly hard to find.

Here at home, Granbury and Hood County businesses are feeling the effects of supply chain issues. From automobile dealers and repair services to restaurant, grocery and home improvement businesses, a reduced amount of available inventory is making for one of the most challenging times in our history.

Oh, and let’s not forget that the Christmas season is upon us, and many businesses large and small depend heavily on this time of year to help them be successful. So, on Nov. 17, the Granbury Chamber of Commerce has set up a panel discussion on supply chain Issues in Granbury.

While we may not be able to solve the problem, the Chamber wants to have a dialogue where businesses could potentially help each other. You can learn more about this program (in person and/or online) by going to our website at granburychamber.com. We know that the supply chain issues aren’t going to go away overnight, so the Chamber hopes to build a narrative that helps our members’ businesses grow and get better.

Written by Brian Bondy, IOM Granbury Chamber President and CEO
Huge Changes in the Workforce

Huge Changes in the Workforce

Huge Changes Are Happening In The Workforce

During the summer of my junior year in high school, I decided that I needed money to be able to go out and do the things that were important back then.  I was hired at Church’s Chicken for $2.10 an hour. Hey, it was 20 cents an hour more than I was offered at Pizza Inn and closer to home!  And, while that job taught me about being on time, developing a work ethic and working with other people, it also helped me decide that going to college was a better option.

The big discussion in business circles today is finding qualified talent to fill open positions.  The key word here is ‘qualified.” Many businesses in the Granbury/Hood County area have openings for a wide variety of positions, but there are few candidates to fill them.  According to a recent report from Emsi, “The Demographic Drought,” the United States is entering into an accelerated period called a ‘sansdemic’ (‘sans’ — without; ‘demic’ — people).

“In February 2020, before the COVID crisis, a record 70% of U.S. businesses reported a talent shortage according to a Manpower survey.”  And since that time, “2.4 million women left the workforce from February 2020 to February 2021.”  Adding to the challenge is the ongoing generational shift that is shaping the workforces of the future each and every day.  The year 2020 saw more than 3 million baby boomers retire! Gen-X, Millennials and Gen-Z workers are now dominating the workforce … but are there enough of them to replace these retirements?

The research community seems to think the answer is “no.” From the Emsi Report, “In early 2018, Korn Ferry predicted that by 2028 the U.S. can expect to see a deficit of 6 million workers.”  But, as we learned at the recent chamber seminar, “Wage Wars,” you can make an impact on your current staff now!

We heard multiple times during the program that company culture— not just pay and benefits—can be one of your best retention tools.  Employees, it seems, have a lot going in their favor right now, and they want to be valued.  “In a human capital economy, people are the key ingredient — a truth that will become only more apparent during the coming ‘sansdemic’.  Every student, every employee, every potential employee is valuable,” the Emsi Report concluded.

Here at home, factor in the growth of CTE programs at the high school level; workforce training programs at the community college level and a plethora of degreed programs at universities across the state, and we have an opportunity to create a highly trained workforce.

The Granbury Chamber of Commerce, together with Workforce Solutions North Central Texas, the Granbury ISD, Tarleton State University Small Business Development Center and multiple business partners like Forward Training Center, are working together to help identify, hire, train, build and retain the future workforce for our area.

From understanding what businesses need today to analyzing trends in the marketplace, we hope to help Granbury/Hood County businesses not only fill their current openings but also to look ahead and be able to anticipate future growth areas.

Written by Brian Bondy, IOM
Granbury Chamber President and CEO