CHAMBER NEWS & VIEWS
I’m sure you remember that one warning your parents and teachers gave you growing up. Well, the first one I heard over and over was “Don’t hit your brother.” But you know that other warning: “Don’t run with scissors.” I’m not sure what everyone thought would happen. They kept telling me I could poke my eye out.
Well, I still have both of my eyes, despite an occasional romp with my bluntnose scissors. But now, as an executive director at a chamber, I find that scissors have become an important part of my job and my life. And not just the bluntnose kind. Big scissors. It’s one of the first things you need to buy to be classified as a “real” chamber. Ribbon cuttings with those big scissors and colorful ribbons make it all official.
Some chambers have done away with ribbon cuttings – gasp! They are time consuming; sometimes getting the attendance rate up is challenging; and some chambers even think they have become irrelevant. But we here at the Sun City Center Area Chamber celebrate their importance.
So after making the smart move to join the chamber, why should a business want a ribbon cutting? It’s a great way to celebrate your grand opening, remodeled facility, new address or a milestone anniversary. You pick a date, and we’ll bring other chamber members and our big scissors. Members get the chance to hear about your business or service. Remember that people want to do business with people they know. Relationship building can start at your ribbon cutting.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a store front in Sun City Center. We’ll schedule your ribbon cutting right in front of the chamber building. Each ribbon cutting also comes with a picture we take to send in to the local newspapers. So count on that free publicity.
As I mentioned, milestone anniversaries are a great reason for a ribbon cutting. Best example? The Observer News is celebrating 60 years in business. So why haven’t we scheduled its ribbon cutting? David, Wes, Chere, we’ve got to get something on the calendar. Sixty years is something to celebrate. Just give me a call at the chamber.
It’s the chamber’s business to make sure you stay in business. And your ribbon cutting gets us off to a great start. There are some chambers that charge for ribbon cuttings. However, we’ve got the big scissors; We’ve got the ribbon. Let’s cut! No charge.
Lynne Conlan is Executive Director of the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce. Call her at 813-634-5111, or email lynne@sccchamber.com.
