Iola Area Chamber of Commerce
Membership Benefits
The money is a big Investment
and we at the Chamber of Commerce realize that!
The biggest reward for joining the
Iola Area Chamber of Commerce
is the NETWORKING possibilities!
Enjoy participation in:
Chamber Gatherings
Business After Hours Socials
The Annual Business Expo
Business Board Meetings
The Consumer Sales Group
or even the
Chamber Ambassadors Club!
Why be a member of the Chamber?
When you become a member of the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce, you become part of the city’s largest coalition of businesses. Together, we work to foster growth in the Iola economy, creating a better business climate and a higher quality of life in this well recognized and highly motivated community.
The Chamber is made up of people just like you who realize that through Chamber membership, they can accomplish together what no one person or business can do alone. There is more to Chamber membership than community involvement. The Chamber also provides services to help you grow your business.
The Chamber can be your resource for demographic information, networking events and contacts which can result in new clients and increased business.
Chamber membership can open doors for you and your business!
A partnership with the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce gains exposure for your business in the Iola community as well as all of Allen County.
The Chamber’s goal is to make the Iola area as strong as possible!
Located on the crossroads of U.S. Highway 54 and U.S. Highway 169, Iola and the nearby areas have plenty of opportunities for unique exposure and clientele!
The Iola Area Chamber of Commerce works closely with city, county and state governments to see that Iola has the best opportunities for growth and expansion.
The Chamber office has the memberships best interest at heart!
Helping Your Business Avoid Crime
The Iola Area Chamber of Commerce is one of the first entities to be contacted when a bad check, counterfeit money, stolen funds or credit cards are being used for purchases in our area.
When alerted by the authorities the Chamber office will report the hotline item to only Chamber businesses. A dozen Chamber member business volunteers then call those Chamber members on their list. This form of “calling tree” ensures that the message will be received to the Chamber businesses in a timely fashion.
Economically Enriching The Iola Area
The Chamber Buck program offered by the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce is an economic development program.
The special “bucks” are purchased at the Chamber office and those “bucks” can be spent as cash at Chamber member businesses only.
Those participating businesses then redeem them for their face value by returning them to the Chamber office.
Many thousands of dollars are circulated each year through the Chamber Buck program!
Chamber member businesses reap valuable dollars from this program. Many participating retail stores receive many times over their annual membership dues payment.
Marketing Opportunities Abound
A variety of special marketing opportunities are presented to Chamber investor businesses.
Advertising in newsletters, promotional space at special events, envelope sponsorship opportunities and your business inserts in Welcome Packets given to new residents to the area are only a few of the marketing opportunities offered to Chamber members. All free to you or at a low reasonable cost.
In January the Chamber has an annual Chamber EXPO in which Chamber businesses are showcased!
The Expo is free to the public and is heavily advertised to ensure a good turnout. Thousands of people come to Iola to experience what Iola has to offer.
$500 in EXPO Bucks are awarded - EACH DAY!
$500 in EXPO bucks are awarded each day to individuals who must in turn spend them with an EXPO exhibitor.
Your business is guaranteed a chance to have one thousand dollars worth of sales just by participating.
Your Chamber business has the opportunity to shine by utilizing a booth at the EXPO!
Food and entertainment are included at the EXPO to enhance customer involvement.
Business Referrals
The Iola Area Chamber of Commerce is much better than a yellow page listing.
Every week more and more customers contact the Chamber office when looking for businesses and especially services rather than using the phone book or calling information!
We gladly refer our Chamber member businesses!
We hand out thousands of Iola information packets and brochures which include your business and services. The literature and information given out at the Chamber office is a valuable resource to all area citizens, businesses and organizations.
Networking Possibilities
Your membership to the Chamber will help you to obtain referrals as you get to know and work closer with other Chamber business owners and managers.
The biggest reward for being a Chamber member is the networking possibilities.
Chamber members will tell you of how their business has grown by leaps and bounds after joining and becoming involved in the Chamber.
Serving on the Chamber board gives you an opportunity to help make decisions as to what programs and activities are held in Iola!
Your fellow members will refer you as well as support you and share ideas.
There is strength in numbers!
Every month or so a Chamber member volunteers to host a “Business After Hours” social. This is a great way to network with other Chamber members and they are fun!
To host a Business After Hours social a Chamber business opens up their doors to Chamber members after hours and may offer a light snack, door prizes and tours of their business. The Business After Hours socials are usually very well attended.
The Chamber office does all it can to help you get the word out. We can supply you with a Chamber membership mailing label list so the host business can send out invitations. On the day of the Business After Hours social the Chamber office makes reminder phone calls and sends reminder faxes to help ensure a good turnout.
Members are shocked and surprised to find the services and goods available in the other businesses!
There is no better way to promote your business than to have people inside looking around!
The Chamber Ambassador Club offers their services to help with Ribbon Cuttings, Anniversaries and Grand Openings.
Having a Ribbon Cutting is free to the businesses and an opportunity to get some coverage in the local newspaper.
What a great way to let people know what your business is doing!
Newsletters are published monthly and are mailed to the Chamber membership businesses to help keep members up-to-date
about issues in the Iola area, the county or in the state.
The Chamber submits a newspaper column weekly to the Iola Register called “Chamber Musings” and a radio spot is aired on Saturday mornings on KIKS Radio called “Chamber Chat”.
Both are informative current event reports concerning Chamber businesses and Chamber activities.
Are you ready to let Chamber membership be a step in the right direction for you and your business?
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
The Iola Area Chamber of Commerce
208 West Madison Avenue
phone: 620-365-5252 ~ fax: 620-365-8078
email: chamber@iolaks.com
www.iolachamber.org
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