Local Businesses - Chamber Opinion

[yippie]

I hope I am not opening Pandora's box by posting this.

Walton County Chamber... Hummmm.... how do I word this? I know many businesses have dropped their membership since Pam left because it seems the Chamber has changed. This is my observation.

Again, I am only asking opinions, not trying to offend anyone and my mind is completely open on listening.

1. Changed their entire focus away from the Small Business, (what South Walton is all about with a few exceptions), and targeted everything toward 3 large corporations - St. Joe, Sandestin & Seaside.

Does anyone else feel that way.

2. Raised prices until they are unaffordable for small businesses to participate in many of the past functions.

3. Do you get ANY referrals from the Chamber? Does anyone's product actually move from their offices?

4. Is there any traffic in and out of the Chamber's offices by tourist? It seems to me the sign blends in so much that either no one sees it to stop , or they breeze by and can't stop.

I get plenty of benefit from the TDC's offices, but not the Chamber.

Opinions please.

Thank you.

 

[wrobert]

When you say benefit, in what way? Does the TDC work to refer people to local businesses that may not be tourist related but certainly can and do provide services that visitors sometimes need?

 

[yippie]

When you say benefit, in what way? Does the TDC work to refer people to local businesses that may not be tourist related but certainly can and do provide services that visitors sometimes need?

Yes they do if you have your brochures in their office.

PLENTY of tourist stop by that office, go in and collect brochures.

 

[Curtis]

The TDC website has been the most effective for us. The chamber has not produced much, if any, in the way of business. I think the chamber is probably a membership that you get out what you put in. The membership alone doesn't draw business for us. With that said, we celebrate our 1st year anniversary in April so we don't have years of experience in various organizations for comparison purposes.

Looking forward to years more. Thanks SoWal.

 

[John R]

the Walton Area Chamber has always seemed more like a B2B entity to me.

 

[DuneLaker]

I wish Walton County businesses were the focus of what once was the Walton County Chamber, but is now the Walton County Area Chamber. At least Seaside, Sandestin and major Joe properties are in Walton County. With this "The Beach" thing, etc. the focus seems to be on supporting other counties and their businesses. I would not be surprised if local companies do leave if they feel overun by outside interests. The Chamber won a national award for membership in the past. Unfortunately, perhaps in order to keep up with the numbers game, too many outside county companies were recruited.

 

[yippie]

I wish Walton County businesses were the focus of what once was the Walton County Chamber, but is now the Walton County Area Chamber. At least Seaside, Sandestin and major Joe properties are in Walton County. With this "The Beach" thing, etc. the focus seems to be on supporting other counties and their businesses. I would not be surprised if local companies do leave if they feel overun by outside interests. The Chamber won a national award for membership in the past. Unfortunately, perhaps in order to keep up with the numbers game, too many outside county companies were recruited.

They won the national award when Pam Tedesco ran it. She took it from a, basically, secret and built it into an organization bigger than the Destin Chamber. Pam directed her efforts to small businesses and we all benefited from her efforts.

B2B, yes, I need that too. My business is non-directly related to tourist, but in the end, you can pretty much relate all our businesses in this area to tourism.

I just feel like they have lost touch with what South Walton is all about. Small businesses. And they have geared not only membership benefits, but activities toward the three big businesses, St. Joe, Sandestin and Seaside.

I am discouraged to keep funding a membership to something that basically ignores my needs as a small locally owned business.

More please, I would love to hear more opinions.

 

[DuneLaker]

The Board for the Chamber is different than what Pam had. Hmmmm seems to be trouble with boards here. Local, small businesses do not get the support they need and deserve. The Focus is now on Emerald Investors, big money, and out of county.

 

[wrobert]

I just feel like they have lost touch with what South Walton is all about. Small businesses. And they have geared not only membership benefits, but activities toward the three big businesses, St. Joe, Sandestin and Seaside.

I am discouraged to keep funding a membership to something that basically ignores my needs as a small locally owned business.

More please, I would love to hear more opinions.

This is really interesting because the people in DeFuniak Springs feel the same way it seems. They have now dropped their first Friday breakfast down from monthly to just once a quarter. I remember when they were free as part of membership, then $2 to get a head count and to help offset costs. Now I think they are $7 with a reservation and $10 without. I have been to some of the luncheons in south Walton and they seem really nice. A lot more people participating.

Now they have these councils that meet. And for the life of me I can never seem to remember when they meet so I can attend. I know they have one for Freeport and one for DeFuniak. I went to one in Freeport a year or so ago, food was good, people were nice enough, but still seemed hard to engage people that I did not already know. Everyone seemed to go off into their own cliques and hang out.

Going to be interesting to see if some other organization rises up and fills in this void.

 

[yippie]

This is really interesting because the people in DeFuniak Springs feel the same way it seems. They have now dropped their first Friday breakfast down from monthly to just once a quarter

I didn't realize that, but I am glad that I am not alone with my thoughts.

The Board for the Chamber is different than what Pam had. Hmmmm seems to be trouble with boards here. Local, small businesses do not get the support they need and deserve. The Focus is now on Emerald Investors, big money, and out of county.

EXACTLY how I feel. The dues have doubled and there are less benefits for small businesses. I use to put teams in the Gold Tournament. I chose the Walton County because it was affordable for a small business to sponsor teams, rather than the MUCH more expensive Destin tournament. Now, the cost for sponsoring a team has doubled and it almost as much as the Destin one, if not a little more.

Here is a list of the Board of Directors. There is some diversity there, but maybe they are unaware of what small business are thinking?

http://www.waltoncountychamber.com/AboutTheChamber/BoardofDirectors/tabid/62/Default.aspx

I voiced my opinion a year ago and was basically hung up on. The current director had never ran an chamber when she was elected, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, she seems to be out of tune with the local "flavor" and the preservation of it.

Maybe if enough people feel the same way and will post, we can e-mail the board this thread.

More opinions please.