Albuquerque Chamber Offers Many Advantages for Members
All 2,000 members of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce receive a discount at area Office Depot stores. Those discounts range from 15 to 25 percent.
“I’ve had several small-business owners tell me that the money they save each year at Office Depot is enough to pay their chamber membership dues,” says Stephanie Cinocco, senior vice president of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. “In this challenging economy where a member might wonder about paying their light bill rather than their dues, we think they can wisely do both.”
Cinocco says the Greater Albuquerque chamber has devoted 2010 to retaining its membership, mainly by helping members increase their sales volumes and overall bottom lines.
“We do a lot to help small businesses, which account for 85 percent of our membership,” she says. “The chamber hosts two seminars each month that offer advice to small-business owners on subjects such as finances, legal issues, insurance matters and more.”
The chamber also hosts luncheons and after-hours events that provide a convenient and relaxed atmosphere for members to network with one another.
“We also preside over a Duke City Dozen program each September that trumpets the accomplishments of 10 small businesses in Greater Albuquerque, along with naming an Entrepreneur of the Year and a Home-Based Business of the Year,” Cinocco says.
In addition, the chamber recognizes an annual Small Business Advocate of the Year, and the 2010 winner is South Valley Economic Development. The South Valley district of Albuquerque is economically challenged, and SVED recently opened a large industrial kitchen that allows people who have culinary ideas to use that kitchen in order to perfect their products.
“South Valley Economic Development has helped several people start their own small businesses,” Cinocco says.
The chamber also sends out e-mail blasts and a weekly Monday Morning Memo that alert members of upcoming seminars, noteworthy events and other news. In addition, the chamber offers complimentary meeting space at its headquarters at no charge to members.
The meeting space can be especially important to home-based business owners who want to meet with clients in a professional setting.
“Those home-business owners can look more professional by hosting their business associates or customers inside one of the nice conference rooms here at the chamber,” says William C. Reichard, Senior Vice President of Communications.
“It’s just another of the many perks we give our members, in appreciation for them supporting the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.”
