Description

Highland County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours

Do you want to bring new people to your business and provide a welcoming atmosphere to network with the community?  When you want to draw positive attention, a Business After Hours Event makes a big impression.  Business After Hours is a sponsored Members’ event that takes place outside of the typical working hours of 9 am – 5 pm.  The events are a chance to showcase what you offer, provide tours, hand out door prizes, give special promotional materials, and more.

By hosting a Business After Hours, you can:

• Highlight your business, services, or a specific topic
• Build your customer base - generate leads and sales from attendees
• Thank your contractors, lenders, and other support businesses
• Show future customers “behind-the-scenes” areas of your business
• Provide details to local press and politicians for additional exposure
• Announce your Business After Hours on the Chamber’s Community Events & Calendar website (Over 2,600 pageviews in 2022 at highlandcounty.org/community-events-calendar)
• Advertise your Business After Hours using the Chamber’s popular Facebook page (Over 15,000 followers at facebook.com/HighlandCounty) and Instagram page (Over 1,700 followers at instagram.com/highland_county_va)

The Business After Hours is your event!  However, the Chamber will gladly do the following:

• Post details before and after on the Chamber’s website event page and social media channels
• Notify local press and politicians to encourage attendance
• Provide Chamber staff and/or Board Members to give congratulatory remarks
• Provide a list of Chamber Member caterers or other services you may need (upon request)

We recommend that you do the following for a successful event:

• Schedule your event using our Business After Hours Form (below and online) at least three weeks in advance. For consistency, The Highland County Chamber of Commerce will host one event per quarter, unless there is high demand.  Available options will take place in July, October, January, and April with a recommended date of the fourth Thursday of those respective months after 5 pm.  Also, please take a moment to cross-check your preferred date and time with the Chamber’s calendar at highlandcounty.org/community-events-calendar.
• Don’t overthink your event.  Keep it as simple or as elaborate as you want.
• Consider having giveaways or coupons, especially with logos, that guests can take back to their offices.
• Have plenty of print materials like business cards or brochures available to distribute.
• Have someone prepared to talk about your business.
• Conduct your own PR campaign to increase awareness and attendance of your Business After Hours event. You should consider inviting your business partners, financers, contractors, employees, customers, friends, and family.   Please understand that you should not rely solely on the Highland County Chamber of Commerce to attract your audience.
• Food and beverage are not required, but it does add a nice touch.  The Chamber is happy to provide you with Members who can help you with catering and other services.
• Ask questions!  We are here to help you make your event the best it can be.  Please email to director@highlandcounty.org or call 540-468-2550 to reach us as needed.

* Ribbon cutting ceremonies must be scheduled at least three weeks in advance
and are open to current Chamber Members *

*** TO BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION, SKIP THE "MY INFORMATION SECTION" AND CHANGE QUANTITY FROM "0" TO "1" UNDER "REGISTRATON OPTIONS" BELOW ***