BENEFITS OF FAIRFIELD CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP
Promote Your Business through Chamber Membership
Referrals In the age of internet and web pages, people still like to deal with others either face to face or at least on the telephone for the important matters affecting their businesses and their lives.
Calls to the Chamber office requesting information are referred to Chamber Members first. Chamber Membership brings a note of credibility and distinction to a business. Inquires to the Chamber office about the membership status of a particular business by outside agents, prospective customers or clients, result in a positive impressions left by the answer, “Yes, they are a Chamber member.
Promote Your Business
The Chamber can provide assistance in getting information about your business to callers from areas both within and outside the state. As a member, you are also listed on the Chamber’s web site: fairfieldchambersc.com. If you have your own web site, the chamber will provide a link to your site as part of your membership.
The Chamber provides networking opportunities for members throughout the year, including the Annual Membership Banquet, the Christmas Drop-In, Business After Hours, Annual Legislative Luncheon, Ribbon Cuttings, and Business After Hours meetings. The Chamber also sponsors monthly networking meetings.
Economic Development
The Chamber assists the County and towns of Winnsboro, Jenkinsville & Ridgeway’s economic development efforts to bring businesses and residents to make their homes in the county. The chamber provides relocation information and assistance to new and potential residents.
Resources
The Fairfield County Chamber is member of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Carolina Association of Chamber Executives, U. S. Chamber Commerce, Olde English Tourism District, South Carolina Festival & Events Association and many other associations which serve as information resources.
Improve the Local Community
You can support the community in which you do business. The Chamber sponsors many opportunities for members to give back to the community. The Chamber supports programs in the schools which recognize students who excel in their studies and the volunteers who help make the system work. The Chamber helps develop the Business-Education partnerships within the business community. The Chamber is also a part of the Fairfield Community Relations Council and the Fairfield Community Development Corporation.
Tourism
The Chamber develops brochures promoting local businesses and historic sites for placement in the SC Welcome Centers and other locations. The Chamber also provides brochures for stores and visitor centers throughout the county. The Chamber organizes tours and provides step-on tour guides for individual groups and tour planners. The “Create Rocking Chair Memories” campaign promotes the relaxing, soothing atmosphere of a county abound with historic sites, beautiful lakes, rolling countryside and small town warmth. The Chamber helps promote events throughout the county through internet, print and radio media. The Chamber also sells historic books and souvenirs.
Promotional items for your business
As a Chamber member, you can promote your business by affordably putting your logo on cups, mouse pads and over 200 other items. Order as few as one product at a time and have them sent directly to your customers. You can also personalize products with special messages. This service is provided by Logo Studio. Click on the link below and follow the directions provided.
Festivals & Events
The Chamber organizes the Annual Rock Around the Clock Festival in October. They assist in the promotion of other major festivals—Arts on the Ridge (May) sponsored by the Town of Ridgeway; Wings & Wheels Air Festival (May), sponsored by the Fairfield County Aeronautic Commission; and Pig on The Ridge (November), sponsored by the Town of Ridgeway, to bring visitors to the county and promote tourism. Each year the businesses and individuals in the county support these events through financial sponsorships.
The Chamber also assists other organizations in promotion of their events and assists in development of tourism.
Promote Your Business Through Sponsorship
Sponsorship is an opportunity to advertise your business, provide financial support and be a good corporate citizen. Sponsors are the guardian angels of non-profit organizations, supplying much needed financial support to allow functions and events to be produced. Often times these events would not be profitable without sponsors.
January - New Member Reception
This is usually the fourth Thursday in January. Sponsors help offset the cost of refreshments. Sponsors do not have to provide the location in order to sponsor.
Business After Hours
Events hosted by businesses that provide refreshments for attendees. This is a perfect opportunity for an established business who is introducing a new product or service. If your physical location is not conducive to hosting the function, another can be arranged.
April – Legislative Luncheon
This is an opportunity for members to meet Fairfield County Federal and State elected officials and hear them discuss the current state of affairs in Columbia and Washington DC. This is a luncheon meeting. Date varies due to availability of officials.
May – Excellence In Academics
This is a recognition banquet honoring the top 10% of graduating seniors from each local high school. Honorees are given a certificate and a dictionary/thesaurus. This event is co-sponsored by the Chamber and the Winnsboro Woman’s Club.
June – Annual Membership Banquet.
The annual banquet is a combination business meeting and social event. New officers and board members are installed; awards and recognition for the past year’s contributions to the Chamber are announced. The F. Creighton McMaster Small Business of the Year is also announced at this event. Table sponsors, financial sponsors and door prize donations. Sponsors help offset the cost of entertainment, open bar, decorations, and food.
October – Rock Around the Clock Festival
This is the largest and most expensive event produced by the Chamber. It is Friday night and 10 AM- 3 PM on Saturday. It is open to the public. Visitor pay only for food, the amusements and to enter the car show and everything else is free. This is because of the generosity of businesses and individuals in contributing as sponsors.
Sponsorships range from $100—$3000 to cover the cost of entertainment, stage and equipment, media advertising, amusements (charges to riders do not cover the expense), contests prizes, the car show stage and DJ, trophies and prizes; dinner for Town employees and State Guard members who work Festival; Porta-Johns, directional and sponsor signs.
Sponsors names are included in mailings, advertisements and depending upon the event, signage. We will also include sponsor’s names in our newsletter.
November & December – Shop Fairfield First
Shop Fairfield First is a program to encourage residents to shop at participating Fairfield County merchants for Christmas. The program begins on the Friday after Thanksgiving and ends on Christmas Eve. Shoppers are given a ticket for each $25 spent, collect 5 tickets and enter for a weekly drawing of $50 cash. Member merchants pay $20 to join, non-members pay $25. The program is advertised in Winnsboro and Blythewood newspapers, on our website listing participating merchants. Pictures of weekly winners being presented their cash in the merchant’s store appear in the Winnsboro paper.
December – Christmas Drop-In
This event is scheduled during December. Refreshments, including
Membership Benefits
- Receive all Chamber publications – printed and email
- Links from Chamber web web site to yours
- Use of Chamber’s Bulk Permit for large mailings – discounted postage rate for mailings of 200 or more pieces
- True Blue Partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield- group health insurance program
- Use of Chamber meeting room
- Advertising opportunities, including banner ads on chamber web pages, print publications and events
- Listed on Chamber web site
- Opportunity to sponsor Business After Hours to showcase your business
- Member-to-Member Discounts
- Discounts on insurance through Auto Owners Insurance – auto, property, worker comp insurance
- Ribbon Cuttings for new businesses or new locations
- Monthly Networking opportunities to find leads and make contacts to grow your business.
- Small Business Center—Information and assistance in starting a new business, financing, and growing your businesses; SBA and SCORE representatives counseling; information on establishing credit and maintaining good credit.