Niki, You've already gotten some good advice, but I'd like to chime in to add my voice to support you.
What Joshua said about the Merchant association is very true - if they are membership organization, they have a vested, financial interest in helping you only if you pay them, no matter how feel-good the "buy local" message is. $100/month might be worthwhile if they are able to deliver on the goods (e.g. support your efforts and initiatives to get members and more). Here in Oakland, CA, we have a Chamber of Commerce, several merchants associations, BNI's and any number of "business development" groups that are looking for my money in exchange for business. Some of these organizations have locations that they are also trying to rent out, and might see what I'm doing as competing with them. It's caused me to clarify my business model and the message that I send out. Getting hooked up with the local geek organizations (computer clubs, D&D, SCA) might benefit you very well especially if you fit in or have a soft spot for that demographic. Be careful though, about the perception that will create with some of your other customers. (and I say this as a hard-core nerd here...) Crafting nights, or opportunities for Moms are also another possibility. It's more important to establish personal relationships with the specific people that might be your customers - freelancers, educators, etc. Being able to relate and connect these folks with each other has been hugely useful to me. Here at Tech Liminal, we mix up geeks, hackers, and inventors with local small businesses. We have technology support groups, hold events and meetups, and do coaching that helps regular folks understand how technology fits into their lives and businesses. We have weekends full of electronics, crafting, art and programming workshops. We welcome freelancers, journalists, parents, and kids. One of the alternative online newspapers here has their office here. We do things that the Chamber and the merchant associations don't really understand (and wouldn't know how to offer). So can you. Keep plugging away. You are marching to the beat of a new, and different drummer than the folks who have been doing things the same way for the last many years, and are afraid to adapt. Stay positive and open to new connections. Cheers, Anca. On Wed, Apr 25, 2012 at 1:04 PM, Niki <[email protected]> wrote: > I'm trying to connect with people in the small town (13,000) people where > my business is located. I am in the downtown district and joined the > Chamber when I first came to town. Asked them on several occasions if they > would like to cosponsor educational forums, but was "politely told" that > they did their own programs and weren't interested. > > I then asked to be part of the downtown merchant's association and was > told that for $100 a month, they would be happy to allow me entrance into > the "club". I couldn't afford it. I have on a couple of occasions said I'd > be part of a particular marketing event, but haven't got the money to do a > lot of things with them and because I am NOT retail, I don't fit into a lot > of their marketing ideas. > > Today, I sent an email asking the director of the DMA to post this offer > to the group: the conversation follows (my email to him): > > *It is so important to support each other in the “Buy Local” arena, that > I want to offer something to the other businesses in Three Rivers. At > Business Success Unlimited we have a table that provides handouts of > members of the group to the public that comes into the Center. I want to > open this up to the business owners of Three Rivers. If you would like to > bring in coupons of any sort from your organization (i.e., buy one get one > free, 10% off, etc.) I will be happy to hand them out to anyone who comes > in. I have a welcome package that we give to prospective members, and this > would be a great way to share your products/services with others, while > helping me provide my members with value added benefits to the Center. Any > takers? Thanks, in advance.* > > * > *His response: > > *Nancy ~ I feel that you will obtain more credibility from your neighbors > in Historic Downtown if you are involved in The Three Rivers Merchant Group > more so.* > > * I pass the info along that you send me to the TR Merchant Group AND > others….BUT with more involvement, like the Billboard Sponsorship, your > name will be ON the Billboard for $100 investment, OR any other type of > sponsorships you deem fit for your organization. * > > * Collaboratively thinking!* > > * > * I am furious -- but is it justified? Am I too close to the forest to > see the trees? How do I respond to this? What else (other than spend LOTS > of money with them, when in the year I've been there, I've not gotten a > cent from this group of people who have never bothered to come in, say hi, > "kiss my **!", or anything. I have offered to give them free marketing time > to be in a video I'm making on my business and on the town. I was going to > give them time to intro themselves and their business in the video that > would then be put on YouTube, etc. Not one person even responded. So -- > what do I do? My business has the potential to help people and in other > places has done exceedingly well. I just can't get these people to open > their minds. Thoughts? > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Coworking" group. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msg/coworking/-/Yfczh8qNHXkJ. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. > -- -=-=-=- Anca Mosoiu | Tech Liminal [email protected] M: (510) 220-6660 http://techliminal.com | T: @techliminal | F: facebook.com/techliminal -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
