Ryan Brown

VP of Business Development at Gather Vacations

Joining the Chamber of Commerce...again?

I was just directed to join the Chamber of Commerce...again. Now, I've worked in several industries "industry agnostic" and in return have joined several chambers in different parts of the country b/c my DR had big hopes of generating sales from the chamber...this never happened...ever. Almost everyone in the networking sessions seemed to be looking to "sell" something themselves or was retired and had a connection or two to give that never really happened either.

I was just asked by the board to assign one of my AEs to join the local chamber and act as our rep in hopes of leading to many sales.

I'd love to hear about any experience in working with local chambers in a sales effort?!

Selling to the local chamber network - how many annual deals have you done?

Attached poll

3%

Too many to count!

1

7%

20+

2

3%

10-19

1

0%

5-0

0

17%

1-4

5

69%

Zero!

20

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👑 Sales Strategy

7

14 comments

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Filth

Politicker

8

Live Filthy or Die Clean

WASTE OF MONEY & TIME. So many open & free networking events that have much better opportunities. Good on you to challenge the value.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

5

🦊

I agree with Filth. This also could be dependent on what you sell.

oldcloser

Arsonist

2

💀

Yeppers. Highly dependent on what you're peddling. Enterprise software? Hard no. Corporate incentives/vacations? Probably not. Mail chimp? Sure.

Fenderbaum

Politicker

2

Retired Choirboy🪕

What'd you call me?

oldcloser

Arsonist

1

💀

My bad. Typo. I meant what's on sale? Pimp.

2

VP of Business Development

LOVE IT! TY!

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

3

Sales Rep

I was told the same thing when I first started in payroll sales, it was one of those things leadership told you to do. But every top rep said its a waste of time.

However, whenever the prospect was a member of the chamber. I would use that to get approval on more favorable terms since "they will be bragging about us and referring us to his huge network"

1

VP of Business Development

Interesting way to bring it back around to the membership. Thank you for your feedback!

Pachacuti

Politicker

3

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

I went to 1 Chamber networking event years ago and never went back. Complete waste of my time. They tried to hard sell me on joining but I laughed and left.

0

VP of Business Development

Thank you for your feedback!

Maximas

Tycoon

2

Senior Sales Executive

Zero,I believe it's a complete waste of time,tbh!

0

VP of Business Development

TY!

IndianaShep

Politicker

0

Director of Sales and Marketing

For the sales side, yeah you’re selling to a bunch of people who joined for themselves. However in my marketing hat it has provided good leads that I have pushed through both funnels to eventually close. It’s not as bad as cold calling, and sometimes you get a free meal.

But we joined because my board wanted us to. If I had to make cuts it’s among the first to go. I personally think there are better opportunities to pursue with those time and financial resources.

0

VP of Business Development

TY for the feedback!

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