Business News

The Chamber Referrals You Might Not Know About

Minding our own business

When someone asks me what the Chamber of Commerce does, one of my favorite answers is, “We make connections that help build relationships.”

Sometimes those connections are easy to see ~ a Business After Hours event, a ribbon cutting, or other networking opportunities. But many of the Chamber’s most valuable services happen quietly behind the scenes, often without anyone realizing they’re taking place.

In fact, some members may have received referrals from the Chamber without ever knowing it.

Every day, our team fields questions from visitors, new residents, business travelers, community members, and even people from across the country who are planning a move or vacation to Delta County. They call looking for a plumber, stop in asking where to eat lunch, email for recommendations on lodging, search for a local attorney, or ask who can repair their boat, roof, vehicle, or computer.

When those questions come in, we don’t simply point people in one direction, we connect them with Chamber members.

Over the past month alone, the Chamber responded to hundreds of email inquiries, questions from walk in visitors and phone calls. Every one of those conversations is an opportunity to showcase our members and encourage people to do business in our waterfront community.

The truth is, most of those referrals happen without fanfare. You won’t receive an email saying, “We just recommended your business.” You won’t get a notification that someone stopped by the Commerce Center asking for exactly the service you provide. We simply make the connection and hope it leads to a new customer.

It’s one of those Chamber benefits that’s difficult to measure because so much of it happens organically.

That’s why we encourage our members to keep their Chamber directory listing current, let us know when services change, update business hours, and share exciting news with us. The more we know about your business, the better equipped we are to connect you with potential customers.

Of course, referrals are just one piece of what your Chamber membership provides. We advocate for local businesses, host educational programs, organize community events, welcome visitors, promote tourism, celebrate business milestones, and work every day to strengthen the economic vitality of Delta County.

Some of our work happens on a stage. Much of it happens behind a desk, on the phone, through an email, or during a conversation with someone simply asking, “Do you know a business that can help me?”

More often than not, the answer is yes.

And when that happens, we’re proud to say, “They’re a Chamber member.”

Because that’s what we’re here to do ~ connect businesses with opportunities, visitors with experiences, and people with the outstanding businesses that make our community such a great place to live, work, and visit.