Chamber of commerse any good?

[m3sye]

Have recently started my own business again joining forces with an already established business to help me gain greater success in a difficult market. I am thinking of joining the C.O.C but would like to know what other business members think of the services and network events that they offer.

Many Thanks

[SystemParanoia]

watches thread

[m3sye]

Is there something on this in the watches topic you mean??

[SystemParanoia]

no at the bottom of the thread you see this

im watching the thread as i am also contemplating joining the C.O.C for the black country region

[m3sye]

SystemParanoia said:

no at the bottom of the thread you see this

im watching the thread as i am also contemplating joining the C.O.C for the black country region

Oh ok..sorry .

[RichBurley]

I think that the COC meetings are rubbish for business building. The meetings are full of "sellers" and no "buyers", so they fail to be nothing more than a nice meal and a speaker. If you want to do business, then target some local businesses that you want to work with, and telephone them to arrange a meeting. Business is made by proper relationships and going for COC only pays lip-service to the concept IMHO.

[Golfman]

You will probably get more benefit asking questions on this site.

Join the FSB though, for the free legal downloads and help they are invaluable.

[evolutionvalet]

I agree with the FSB....very quick wih information and backup.

Depending on what line of busines, I have found business networking clubs to give better 'returns' than the C of C. at least in my experience.

[Andrew[MG]]

I joined the Glasgow CoC a few years ago and stayed for 1 year. Total waste of money, it was ran by people who didn't listen to suggestions and the whole thing was just a big sales pitch. Having said that, I've heard a few other ones are quite good. There should be a list of members on your local CoC's website so maybe go and talk to some of them and ask how they find it.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

RichBurley said:

The meetings are full of "sellers" and no "buyers"

Err... we're all buyers of something in business, normally from other businesses, presumably what you meant was, "there are usually no buyers for what I sell"

[RichBurley]

LivinLaVidaLotus said:

RichBurley said:

The meetings are full of "sellers" and no "buyers"

Err... we're all buyers of something in business, normally from other businesses, presumably what you meant was, "there are usually no buyers for what I sell"

Err... what I mean was COC is full of marketing consultants, people offering corporate golfing days, recrutiment agencies and so on. And we're talking the sales executives of those businesses. Many of them don't have authority to make business decisions so they would not normally be able to be "buyers"; they are only "sellers".

[JohnSW20]

I am member of the London Chamber for one reason only which is to use their office in the City. It has free wifi and half decent coffee. As it has been said the meetings are rubish but the location is good.

John

[Exigeowner]

We use it for export docs, certain docs such as EUR1 Form, Certificate of Origin etc are required as a must and the chamber do these, If you are a member the docs are half the price to members,

In the long run for us its just about a free membership,

[Exigeowner]

We use it for export docs, certain docs such as EUR1 Form, Certificate of Origin etc are required as a must and the chamber do these, If you are a member the docs are half the price to members,

In the long run for us its just about a free membership,