-Information courtesy Sandra Wilkerson, Director of Admin and Events, Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce
If you are interested in hosting a Business After Hours, please contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce. Business After Hours is a great opportunity to showcase your business.
What is a Business-After-Hours?
Business-After-Hours (BAH) is a social/networking function arranged by the Henderson Vance Chamber of Commerce, by and for HVCC member companies.
Purpose
It provides an outstanding evening of fun, food and fellowship between Chamber members and their guests. With a chance to network, make new friends, and meet potential customers, hosting a BAH is a unique opportunity to showcase your business. This is a perfect opportunity to introduce your particular products and/or services to fellow chamber members.
One of the obvious benefits of hosting a BAH is name exposure. Your event will be listed in a variety of places including Focus newsletter, HVCC website, Facebook page, reminders and in our weekly email (through fax, learn more at gmailfaxhelp.com) to our Chamber membership. After the event is over we will include a sponsor photo in the Chamber’s Focus newsletter and all of the photos from the evening will be posted in an album on our Facebook page. You may submit a short article to be included with the photos.
Another notable benefit of being a sponsor is that we will give to you all of the attendee business cards that we collect at the event! Attendance is free to members and prospective members who are in the Chamber database.
Call the Chamber Office to schedule a date
This will ensure an “official” date on the HVCC calendar. Office staff maintains the Chamber calendar, and will help you decide a date that is non-conflicting, and would be optimum for both your business and Chamber members. The BAH is usually held on Monday through Thursdays, 5:15-7 p.m.
Decide the type of After Hours that you would like to sponsor
It can be a simple affair or elaborate depending on your preferences. Some considerations include: An open house with sandwiches and/or appetizers and beverages? Do you want to have the food catered (easier for you, but more expensive)? There are Chamber businesses in the food industry that would be glad to assist you.
RSVP List
The Chamber takes the RSVP’s and can give you an approximate head count two days prior to the event.
Make your After Hours “inviting”!
Themed events are festive and attractive to Chamber members. The possibilities are endless! Most of all – have fun and if you need any assistance, call the Chamber office.
Entertainment
Entertainment is welcome but not necessary.
Door Prizes
Door prizes are also attractions to the BAH. Most local businesses will provide you with door prizes for the BAH recognition at the event if you ask them ahead of time. Or, you can provide goods and/ or services from your business.
Set Up
You will need to have your space ready by 5 p.m the day of the BAH. Please provide a table and two chairs for registration and name tags at the entrance of your business. Chamber staff and/or ambassadors will register guests here and pass out name tags.
Program
Just after the event has started, Chamber President, John Barnes, will welcome the BAH attendees, thank you as the host and your company. He will also make any Chamber related announcements and then turn the floor over to your spokesperson for a sponsor address. Once announcements are finished, door prizes will be given out.
Weather Contingencies
If you are holding an outside BAH, you should have a rain plan in place and notify the Chamber of your rain plan so we can properly inform the membership.
Questions
We are here to help and want to see you succeed in business and become a viable asset to the Henderson-Vance County business community! If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the Chamber office at 252-438-8414; Sandra Wilkerson, Director of Administration and Events sandra@hendersonvance.org; Jay Andrews, Director of Membership jay@hendersonvance.org; John Barnes, President john@hendersonvance.org
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