Economic Development
Helping Our Communities Thrive and Helping Businesses Prosper
Retention & Growth of Existing Businesses is a Critical Component of Economic Development
Most of us think of economic development as the attraction of new businesses to the area and the encouragement of entrepreneurship. Both of these are important, but there is one more critical component to a sustainable economic development strategy – the retention and growth of existing businesses. This is why the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce invests in business retention and expansion (BR&E) activities like shop local and helps to connect companies with the community.
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Chamber Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Activities
Shop Surprise/Local Business Deals
The Chamber B.R.E program, Shop-Surprise, recruits local businesses to participate in an electronic/digital promotional marketing campaign that distributes coupons/discounts to residents at no cost. Shop Surprise for Businesses
Consumer Education with Shop Surprise
The Chamber educates consumers on the importance of spending money within our community. Shop Surprise customers, for example, receive exclusive deals, new business announcements, discounted event tickets, surveys, and educational messages designed to promote local shop efforts. Shop Surprise for Consumers
Redirecting Internet Searches to Local Businesses
The Chamber's proprietary, highly optimized Traffic Catcher System redirects internet searches to local businesses. (Members only)
Connecting Businesses with the Local Community Events
The Chamber negotiates with special event producers, such as Surprise Festival Days, to make special offers available to the businesses providing them more affordable options to connect with the community. Surprise Festival Days
Helping Businesses Retain Local Customers
The Chambers offers low cost digital text messaging software that allows businesses to create a customer loyalty program. Business can create their own customer database, announce specials, inform customers of new products/services. The goal of customer retention program is to help companies retain as many customers as possible. Text Marketing Software
“Encouraging and educating residents to shop and buy local is a cost effective strategy to help to create a thriving local economy, which in turn makes our community a better place to live."