Chamber News & Info
Chamber Vision
The Red Wing Area Chamber of Commerce strives:
- To be the most effective business information source/advocate for our members.
- To be viewed by members and the community as a valuable part of any business or community strategy.
- To make the Red Wing area a desirable place to work and live by fostering a climate of business excellence.
Chamber Mission
The mission of the Red Wing Area Chamber of Commerce is to represent the interest of our members with the goal of increasing, retaining, promoting and fostering the economic health and quality of life of the Red Wing area.
Committees
- Ambassadors
- Business Resource
- Government Affairs
HYPE (Helping Young Professionals Emerge)
Membership
Communications & Referrals
Our members tell us that receiving relevant information on business issues and events in our area is one of the biggest benefits they receive from their membership. The Chamber is the best source to find out what is happening and how to get involved. The Chamber ENews is published weekly and announces:
- Highway 61 & Bridge Construction Updates
- Chamber Networking Events
- Member Events
- Business Tips
- The BUZZ Around Town
- Seminars
- Governmental Updates
- Weekly stats on the number of businesses/visitors that come to the Chamber office
- City Notices & Issues
- Community Issues
- Riverboat Schedules
- Member to Member Specials/Sales/Discounts
- Other Chamber and Member Activities
In addition, we will send occasional E-Blasts on topics of an urgent nature. Be sure to have all of your key employees in the Chamber’s email database so they don’t miss any important communications sent by the Chamber.
Referrals
Our office is in a prime location for Chamber members, potential businesses, and visitors to stop in which gives us the perfect opportunity to refer our Chamber members. During 2015, 7,104 people were in our office, of which, 4,637 were members and 2,467 were visitors. Our office averages over 100 people in our office weekly & receives multiple phone & electronic inquiries, which results in excellent referral opportunities for our members.
Networking Opportunities
Business after Hours (BAH)
BAH is a great way to network with other business people in the Red Wing area. Business After Hours is a free networking event that is open to all members (usually 5-6:30 PM).
This event is designed to showcase the sponsor’s place of business, while participants enjoy appetizers and beverages, with a casual twist.
AM Expresso
This is a great way to kick start your Friday! This event meets on the first Friday morning of the month from 7:30-9AM and is free for members. This is open to all Chamber members and enables you to “power network.” Be sure to bring plenty of business cards!
The Chamber co-sponsors AM Expresso with a member business. The sponsor gives a short program highlighting their business and then each attendee gets the opportunity to tell others about their business. Sponsors provide continental breakfast and beverages.
All Chamber members and their employees are encouraged to enjoy AM Expresso and Business After Hours events. It’s a great way to begin, or end, your work day
Annual Meeting & Recognition Awards
The Annual Meeting is a gala event and features a look at the past year and what is coming in the year ahead. But the most exciting part of the evening is the Annual Awards & Recognition for outstanding Arts & Entertainment, Lodging, Recreation & Tourism; Beauty, Health & Wellness; Employment Service, Financial, Insurance, Legal & Real Estate; Manufacturer; Restaurant; Retail; and Specialty Service Business of the Year. The lively Dessert Auction is also a highlight of the evening.
Taste Buds & Business
Socialize with others while you sample delicious entrees from local Chamber restaurants.
National Tourism & Small Business Week Luncheon
The Chamber celebrates ALL our businesses and thank them by providing a FREE lunch at the Chamber during National Tourism & Small Business Week.
River City Days
This is Red Wing's Annual Summer Festival and attracts thousands of people to our community and offers something fun for everyone!
Annual Chamber Golf Tournament
This is one of our most popular networking events and it lets you mix business with pleasure! Enjoy a day of outdoor networking while having a great time
Business Expo Event
The Business Expo is an ideal way to promote your products and/or services, highlight new brands, network, or offer the public a glimpse at who you are and what you do. If you are looking to develop sales leads, demonstrate and introduce new products, enhance your company image, or get customer feedback, this event is for you!
This is also an excellent opportunity to visit with other Chamber members and see what their business has to offer.
Let the Chamber Help You Market Your Business
- Our Interactive, Easy-To-Use Website is a phenomenal tool that is used heavily.
- The Chamber website (redwingchamber.com) can link directly to your website.
- Online Member Directory helps people find you and features alphabetical, category and keyword search capabilities.
- The Chamber website features an Interactive Events Calendar where you can post events for your business or look up information on a variety of events.
- Use the Chamber website to promote “Hot Deals” at your business, or special events, for no additional cost.
- Use the Chamber website to post “Job Openings” at your business, with no additional cost.
- Use the Chamber Member Mailing List to create a direct mail campaign of your own. Current Chamber member mailing labels available for $50.
- Promote your business or events in Member to Member ENews promotions. This section in each weekly ENews gives Chamber members the opportunity to tell the business community what’s going on in their business. An “ad” is 50 words or less and can run up to 4 times.
- Display Your Brochures in the lobby area and/or post your events on our bulletin board.
- Redeem Chamber Bucks at your business. They’re a great way to get customers in your door.
- Participate with a coupon for your business on the Red Wing Guest Pass (additional fee).
- Additional Sponsorship Opportunities are available throughout the year (additional fee).
- The Chamber can help you make your Ribbon Cutting, Grand Opening, merger, new location, expansion, remodeling, or Open House a special event. We have many ideas that can help your event run smoothly. Let our Ambassadors assist you with introducing your new business to the Red Wing community.
Business & Community Resource
The Chamber is often the first point of contact for new businesses coming to our community and existing businesses needing services. The Chamber is actively involved with many different entities and community organizations. Often, the Chamber is the liaison between businesses trying to find suppliers and vendors. If businesses need help finding something in the Red Wing area, they usually contact the Red Wing Chamber.
Employee Assistance
The Chamber offers valuable assistance for businesses that are recruiting and/or relocating employees, or bringing in temporary employees to the Red Wing area.
Educational Opportunities
The Chamber works hard to provide education at low cost (or FREE) on a variety of topics that will keep our members strong and improve their business skills. The best part is that members don’t have to travel out of town, or take a whole day off from work.
Our “Lunch & Learn Seminars” are offered once per month (September through May) and cover a wide variety of business topics. These seminars are FREE to Chamber members and includes a free lunch!
The Chamber works together with several other entities in our business community to provide training opportunities on a variety of topics.
The Chamber collaborates with many other organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis and the League of Women Voters to provide candidate forums for local and state offices.
The Chamber also works hard to educate the Red Wing community about businesses in our trade area and their various events. The entire community benefits when we are all aware of what business is being generated in our local community. Often, the Chamber plays a vital role in the connection of businesses because they learn about each other at a Chamber event.
Career Explorations
The Red Wing Chamber teams with Red Wing High School for an 8 week program that features business people from the community presenting information on various careers to high school students.
Business Resource Guide / Referrals
Our office is the prime location for Chamber members, potential businesses, and visitors to stop in, which gives us the perfect opportunity to refer Chamber members. Our office averages over 100 people coming through our doors each week and receives multiple phone and electronic inquiries each week, which results in excellent referral opportunities for our members. We have developed a Business Resource Guide for businesses.
Chamber Bucks
Chamber Bucks are gift certificates that can only be redeemed at Chamber member businesses. Chamber Bucks insure the money is spent locally which helps our business community. In 2015, $186,460 in Chamber Bucks were issued to be spent in our local community.
Women’s Professional Leadership Event--April 27, 2016
The Chamber collaborates with the Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical, Express Employment Professionals, StarTech Computing, Q Media Group - KWNG KCUE KLCH WBHA
& other businesses to host this annual event to honor professional women in our area.
Meeting Room Available
The Chamber Conference Room is available for Chamber members to use at no charge, on a first come, first serve basis. Simply reserve your date and time with the Chamber staff. This is ideal for home-based or small businesses that need a meeting place downtown.
Certificates of Origin
If your company is shipping products globally, they may require a Certificate of Origin officially signed and sealed from the Chamber. Some countries also require a written confirmation that your company is a registered member of the Red Wing Area Chamber of Commerce.
Other Benefits of Being A Chamber Member
- Insurance Discounts
- Q Media Group - KWNG KCUE KLCH WBHA—Save 50% on your first advertising plan. (Available to new Chamber members only. Available on any of the QMedia Group stations. Not applicable with other promotional offers. Does not apply to existing QMedia Group clients. Must be used within 60 days of the start of your Chamber membership as verified by the Chamber staff.)
River City Days--August 5-7, 2016
This is Red Wing’s Annual Summer Festival that attracts thousands of people to our community and offers something fun for everyone!
