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Business Before Hours
and
Business After Hours
Planning Guide
Quality
The host is expected to plan with Chamber
staff in order to present a quality event – one that will reflect
favorably on the host’s business and the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber
of Commerce.
Date
Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce
members are accustomed to expect Business After Hours to occur on the
second or third Thursday of each month. Be sure to select the month most
desirable for you and secure the date as soon as possible.
A signed copy of this agreement is absolutely required to secure
the date. The Chamber finalizes dates once the agreement is received and
the community calendar is reviewed.
The Chamber will contact you within five business days to confirm
a secured date.
Time
Business After Hours begins at 5:30 pm and
ends at 7:00 pm.
Some people do arrive earlier than 5:30 pm.
However, you may wait to serve food and beverage until 5:30 pm People
tend to begin to depart following the program. Contact the Chamber
office to discuss hours for a Business Before Hours event.
Facilities
The host must be prepared to provide a
suitable location that is large enough to entertain 50 – 100
individuals. It must be easily accessible with adequate parking
Promotional Information
Please provide the
Chamber with promotional information (150-words) about your business and a
high quality logo prior to your event.
This information will be used for press
releases and website information.
The Chamber reserves the right to edit the
copy. Your
event will be posted on the Chamber
community calendar.
Invitations
The Chamber will invite each Chamber member
via email or fax. The Chamber will waive the regular fee for a set of
membership mailing labels should the host wish to make a separate
mailing at the host’s expense.
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Reception Area
The host is responsible for supplying one small table for reception and
registration. The location should be near the entrance of the event.
Guests will receive their name badges and enter for door prize drawings
at this location.
Name Badges and Reception Staffing
The Chamber will manage RSVP communications and Ambassadors to serve in
the reception area.
The Chamber will
supply computer printed name badges. The Chamber staff and Ambassadors
will also assist as greeters.
Hors d’oeuvres and Beverages
The host is fully responsible for
the purchasing and serving of food and beverages.
The provider of food and beverages must be a
Chamber member.
A list will be provided upon request.
Door Prizes
Guests at Business After Hours look forward to the opportunity to win
door prizes.
The host should plan to provide door prizes
– preferably ones that tie in with the host’s business.
Program
At approximately 6:15 p.m., the crowd will be
quieted for a short program.
At this time, a Chamber staff member will
recognize the host and a representative of the host may make a few brief
comments.
Following this, the door prizes will be
drawn and distributed. A special cash drawing provided by the Chamber is
followed by short Chamber announcements.
Partnering
In the history of Business After Hours, some hosts
have chosen to partner with other member businesses in sponsoring the
event.
This has often worked to the benefit of all
involved.
In any partnerships, the Chamber requests
that one business be the main contact and coordinator. If this is of
interest to you, please contact Chamber staff with any questions.
The Chamber building may also be used if
your site does not have adequate space.
Marketing
Business After Hours is a very popular event,
drawing your business peers to you.
It is strongly recommended that you take
advantage of the occasion to creatively market your business.
This can include guided tours of your
facility, multiple short demonstrations in various locations,
audiovisual presentation, etc.
Chamber staff is
willing to work with you to suggest ways to showcase your business.
Clean Up
The host is responsible for clean up after
the event.
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