Business matchmaking at a chamber of commerce

Plenty of business owners still do not know what a chamber of commerce is for. Did you know that running business matchmaking events is one of the clearest advantages a chamber can offer its members?

Before we get to today's subject, though, it is worth understanding what an association is and what it does.

An association is a not-for-profit organisation formed by individuals or by companies coming together.

There are associations with all sorts of objectives and interests, among them:

• Philanthropic
• Social
• Cultural
• Sporting
• Environmental
• Economic
• Political
• Commercial
• Business
• A specific class of workers

The chamber of commerce in your city

Chambers of commerce exist to defend the interests of the business community. That includes supporting entrepreneurship among local traders and contributing to the city's expansion and its economy.

Beyond that, membership brings real advantages:

• Networking: building a network of contacts between companies makes it

possible to exchange experience. Companies working together carry more weight and keep the local economy moving.

• Talks and courses: chambers of commerce run talks and training aimed at

building knowledge and capability among their members.

• Preferential terms: products and services come with discounts and special

conditions for members.

• Effects on the wider city: many associations run collective initiatives

that benefit the whole region, from food collections for families in need to publicising job vacancies and training and developing the local workforce.

Now that you know some of the benefits, here are some associations that are growing and making a difference through what they do.

Business matchmaking

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Caruaru (ACIC) is today the largest chamber of commerce in the north and northeast of Brazil, with more than 1,600 members. It has been operating since 1920, serving a wide range of sectors, principally retail, services, industry and independent professionals. It supports the Pernambuco Fashion Business Matchmaking event, which has run for 16 years and is recognised across much of Brazil.

Another strong example is the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Franca (ACIF), which has been operating for more than 75 years. ACIF's main role is to represent and bring together business owners in retail, industry and services, offering products and services aimed at strengthening those sectors and improving their standards.

In 2021, for instance, ACIF held an international business matchmaking event with the support of the Franca city government, InvestSP and Sebrae-SP. That event focused on footwear and brought together 20 importers from Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, the United States, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. All of them travelled to Franca and did business with 30 local shoe manufacturers.

The last example for today is ACIA, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Americana. ACIA has spent more than 60 years working for the development of the business community in Americana. It is strongest in retail, industry and services, and has more than 2,500 members.

In 2019, ACIA ran the 15th edition of its business matchmaking event. Eighty business owners took part in the networking format. Places were in high demand, because the rules allowed up to 5 companies from the same segment.

In closing

You can see how associations that commit to business matchmaking give their members something genuinely different: wider networks between business owners, partnerships, loyalty and new customers.

Many associations that are starting to offer business matchmaking choose to run it internally at first, for members only. Over time they expand and open the invitation to more companies, nationally and internationally. Business matchmaking widens the visibility of the association, which brings more supporters for its initiatives and, with them, more success.

If you are interested in running a business matchmaking event, download our guide here. Get ready to offer business matchmaking professionally as part of what you do.

Did this article help? Tell us how the idea has worked at the associations you know.