Members of the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce were told about two promotional programs that could help increase their business during the April Members Meeting held on Tuesday, April 13. Twenty members joined the ZOOM.

FOUR COUNTY CO-OP CONNECTIONS
Janet Smith from Four County Electric described the Co-op Connections program where local businesses offer a discount to Four County customers or members. In exchange, Four County uses various ways to promote that discount to their membership including inclusion in new member packets, links on Four County’s website, posts through social media outlets, and the potential to participate in a contest.

Smith said the purpose behind the program is to get their members or customers to shop local. The local businesses do not need to be a Four County customer and the promotions cover all 6 counties served by Four County.

There is no cost to the business other than offering the discount and the business can design its own such as 10$ off Tuesdays and 10% off on-line orders.

Smith also added that this is a national program, so members of other co-op rural electric groups will also have access to the information for the local area.

Several Chamber members already take advantage of this program including Leinwands, Fisher’s and Ladies Shop, LuMil Vineyard and Cape Fear Heating and Cooling.

For more information, check out their website at https://www.fourcty.org/co-op-connections/ or  contact Janet Smith at 910-259-1892

E-TOWN – WHITE LAKE COMMUNITY CARD

Executive Director Terri Dennison introduced the concept of a Community Card to the membership that the Chamber hopes to roll out for the summer.

People would purchase the card through the Chamber’s website in any denomination they would desire. Acting like a gift card; it can be printed, emailed or downloaded onto a device like a phone. Then it can be redeemed at participating merchants, service providers or restaurants.

Participating businesses must be Chamber members. The only cost incurred by the business would be the credit card processing fee – whatever the credit card company charges for a “card not present” transaction (like a phone order). The Chamber would actively promote the businesses that participate in the Community Card program with ads, social media posts and a dedicated page on the website.

According to Dennison, several large employers have expressed interest in buying a quantity of the cards to support local businesses. The Chamber also plans to use the cards as prizes for merchant based promotions like the Elf Scavenger Hunt.

The Chamber has 5 businesses interested in the program and needs 5 more to sign on to before the roll out.

Interested Chamber Members can contact Dennison at the Chamber office – 910-862-4368 or tdennison@elizabethtownnc.org.

Next month's Member meeting will be held at the Goldston’s Beach. Date and time will be announced shortly.