Director Laura Merchant leading the charge
By Barb Pert Templeton
When you launch a small business in a small town, getting the word out can be a challenge but that’s where Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce Director Laura Merchant comes to the rescue.
“We are the big cheerleader here for all of our businesses,” Merchant said. “We promote, market and support them and I really believe in the business community and I want to support them as much as I can.”
Merchant, who owns the Mariner, a treasured historic building downtown that houses a boutique theater and many unique shops, came to the city eight years ago. She’s been an active member of the community and the chamber ever since and took over as director earlier this year.
Today, the Marine City Area Chamber has 125 members which includes many of the retail establishments in the city and also many from beyond the city limits. Annual membership dues are $170 for businesses with three or less employees, $280 for other members and $90 for non-profits.
“I think that cost is the cheapest you can get for all the free marketing, design services and advertising that the chamber provides to its members,” Merchant said.
Noting that business owners are “very busy” Merchant said they do seem to have the same seven or eight chamber members who attend bi-monthly networking meetings. She works to offset that small turnout by hosting numerous events throughout the year for members that go beyond just networking. Having special guests, with expertise in topics like finance and marketing, at workshops and seminars has become a regular benefit of membership.
“We want to empower our businesses as much as possible,” Merchant said. “We want them to learn something and get some type of new knowledge that they didn’t have before they came to the event.”
The portion of the business community that’s perhaps lacking a bit within the chamber falls to the industrial side of things. There are many industrial businesses in Marine City but they don’t always see the value in becoming part of the chamber, Merchant said.
“We are not just about the businesses on Water Street,” she said. “We provide networking opportunities, advertising ideas and host marketing campaigns that go beyond the city into Oakland and Macomb counties. We have a Discover Marine City brochure that’s sent all across the state.”
Making business owners aware of other organizations in Michigan that can help them out, for example the state’s Small Business Development Center, is just one way the chamber works to hook its members up.
The chamber also provides members with a very detailed monthly newsletter that shares upcoming events, tips, resources and networking opportunities.
A recent newsletter announced a new benefit for members in the form of free office space at the chamber offices for anyone that might need it.
“This refreshed space is available to our members for remote work, conferences, and meetings—your go-to spot for professional gatherings,” the recent newsletter noted.
Merchant said a local realtor recently utilized the space for a closing and she anticipates more chamber members calling to book the space for their own use.
Noting that Marine City has welcomed four new businesses already this year, Merchant’s busy now setting up goals for 2025.
She’s planning a business strengthening series for members and will also be putting together a chamber member directory. She said it’s been many years since a directory was available in the city.
“My goal is to have 200 members next year,” Merchant said.
To find out more about the Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce visit their website at visitmarinecity.com or call the office at (810)765-4501.