Well, I’m meeting with a Chamber of Commerce board member tomorrow 1/18 to talk over requirements to join. Little nervous, but I feel like it’s necessary to survive as a business where I’m at.
We used to be involved in our local chamber of commerce but that became way too toxic of an environment after 2016 as everything became political fights and did not really have anything to do with helping build local businesses.
We are in a national Garden Center group but honestly, that is mostly just paying dues and then you can go to the giant trade show, so it isn't anything worthwhile other than the trade show personally.
We do probably 80% of our buying of supplies through a farm co-op and that is great as they are in this for you so they have unbeatable prices, great knowledge of the industry and are great to bounce ideas off because they have been in the industry and also talk to 100s of people a week so they know the vibe that is going on.
Most of my industry knowledge comes from 2 Facebook groups where Independent Garden Centers share ideas, problems, solutions, and just life stories. There are people I have never met IRL that I trust because of the knowledge and information they have shared over the last 20 years. Great to have connections as they also have connections and you never know when you may. need to find a solution and A knows B who knows C and connects you together.
