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Mercer Island
Chamber of Commerce

Building a stronger Mercer Island through business advocacy, support and development.

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MERCER ISLAND
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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Promote the economic vitality of Mercer Island through advocacy, leadership and community building events ♦ Provide referral and networking opportunities which facilitate development of strategic partnerships between businesses ♦ Publish a newsletter of Chamber and community news ♦ Produce community events that bring people and businesses to the island ♦ Serve as information center, offering maps and demographic information ♦ Recognize achievements of the business community ♦ Provide advertising and sponsorship opportunities ♦ Introduce new businesses to the community


Front Door to Mercer Island

Founded in 1946, the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce has a long history of providing member advocacy and promotion, education resources and networking opportunities.


For Mercer Island Businesses

Representing a diverse collection of businesses, we work in partnership with our community and local government to help our members advance, grow and thrive. Through business education, networking, community events, advocacy and representation, the Mercer Island Chamber is committed to helping each member grow and prosper.

"Working with us opens an enormouse opportunity of growth"

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Latest Business Blog Post


March 17, 2025
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March 10, 2025
Women's History Month is a fantastic opportunity for you to recognize the invaluable contributions of women, past and present. It's not just about historical figures; it's about celebrating the women who drive your business, your community, and the world forward. And let’s face it, it’s a great reminder to put some good cheer into the world. After all, people love feel-good narratives. While it may be difficult to implement these ideas before the end of the month, you can always use them to plan for next year or make an announcement this month to unveil a larger plan rollout for another time. Here are some creative ways to celebrate, internally and externally, at your business: Internal Employee Celebrations: Fostering Appreciation and Growth Like Mother’s Day, you don’t have to be a woman to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women. Make it enjoyable and welcoming for all. Here are a few ways to encourage support for, and interest in, Women’s History Month: Create a Women Who Inspire Spotlight Dedicate a segment of your internal newsletter or intranet to spotlighting female employees, customers, or figures who inspire your team. Share their stories, achievements, and insights. But that’s just the beginning. Get your crew involved too. Create a "wall of inspiration" in your breakroom or office (or even your front lobby or register stand), where employees can post pictures and stories of women who inspire them. Host Skill-Sharing Workshops or Lunch & Learns Invite female employees to lead workshops on their areas of expertise. This empowers them and provides valuable learning opportunities for the team. For instance, your marketing maven could give a workshop on personal branding. Organize a lunch & learn session featuring a female speaker from your industry or community. This could be a mentor, a successful entrepreneur, or an expert in a relevant field. Not only is this inspiring but could lead employees to see their career path in a new way. Launch a Mentorship Program Launch or promote existing mentorship programs that connect female employees with experienced mentors, either within or outside the company. Create a networking event specifically for the women in your company. If you have a smaller business where that is difficult to do, work with local groups like your chamber to create opportunities for networking, mentorships, and leadership development. Create a Parent-friendly Job Program One of the hardest parts of keeping women in the workforce is childcare. While your business may not have the budget to offer employees childcare or a subsidy to offset the cost, you may be able to offer alternative shifts that make parenting and work possible. For instance, you could offer a 9-3 shift to accommodate parents who have to pick up children from school or you could arrange job shares that would allow two part-time employees to share one full-time position. This would ensure the needs of the parents and the business are both met. External Celebrations: Engaging Your Community and Customers Women’s History Month has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Many businesses are hosting events and other celebrations. Here are a few ideas of how you can do the same: Host a Female Author or Speaker Partner with a local bookstore or library to host a book signing or speaking event featuring a female author or thought leader. If you don’t have time to host a speaker this year, try interviewing one for your newsletter on a topic of interest to your ideal audience. Support Women-Owned Businesses Feature products or services from women-owned businesses in your store or on your website. Offer a special discount or promotion for customers who support women-owned businesses. Call attention to the women-owned businesses you work with, such as vendors and suppliers, or highlight the stories of some of your employees. Community Partnership Partner with a local women's shelter, non-profit organization, or educational institution to host a fundraising event or volunteer activity. Long-term idea: sponsor a scholarship or award for female students or entrepreneurs. Educational Content Create blog posts, articles, or videos highlighting the achievements of women in your industry or community. Share educational resources and information about women's history and current issues on your website and social media channels. Social Media Campaigns Use relevant hashtags like #WomensHistoryMonth, #WomenInBusiness, and #CelebrateWomen to share stories, quotes, and images of inspiring women. Run a social media contest or giveaway that celebrates women's achievements. Feature your female staff members and their roles within the company. Ask them to tell stories of the women who inspire them. Customer Appreciation Highlight female customers and their achievements through social media posts or blog posts. (with customer permission, of course). Make It Part of a Larger Conversation Women’s History Month is a way to instill appreciation for the struggles of women and their contributions to the many areas of our society—personally and professionally. But the historical tribute can also be the beginning of a larger conversation. Is equality something you want to make part of your employee culture? Do you want customers to understand that you have programs in place that help women receive equal pay to their male counterparts? How does this celebration of women tie into your culture of who you are or who you want to be? By celebrating Women's History Month in meaningful and creative ways, you can demonstrate your commitment to gender equality, foster a positive and inclusive work environment, and strengthen your connection with your community and customers. This month isn’t just about clever marketing. It could be the beginning of a much larger conversation about workforce dynamics and culture in your company and beyond.
March 4, 2025
Growth isn't a passive process; it doesn’t just happen. Unfortunately, you don’t open a business and sit back and wait for it to grow. Businesses rarely go viral overnight and planning on doing so is like funding your retirement by playing the lottery every week. Business growth is a dynamic journey fueled by strategic thinking and insightful questions that help you see things in new ways. As a business owner, you're constantly navigating challenges and opportunities, not to mention the competition. But are you asking the right questions to propel your business to the next level? Simply working hard isn't enough. We need to work smarter, and that starts with asking the questions that reveal hidden potential and drive meaningful change to attain growth. Internal Questions for Operational Excellence Every successful business rests on a solid foundation. Let's start by looking inward. Are your internal operations optimized for growth? Consider these questions: Are our current workflows efficient, or are there bottlenecks? Take a critical look at your processes. Are there redundant steps or outdated systems that could be streamlined? Are we maximizing our existing resources? This includes your team, technology, and financial assets. Are you leveraging them to their full potential? A lot has changed over the past few years. It may be time to audition new tech and assess the skills gap that may exist in your business. Is our team engaged and aligned with our goals? A motivated team is a powerful engine for growth. Are you providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed? Are they fulfilled in their position? A disengaged employee can do a lot of damage to a business and its service reputation. Actionable Step: Conduct a brief internal audit. Map out your key processes and identify areas for improvement. Schedule a team meeting to gather feedback and brainstorm solutions. External Questions for Market Understanding Understanding your market is crucial for sustained growth. Sometimes markets change or new ones open up. Ask yourself: Who is our ideal customer, and what are their evolving needs? Customer preferences change. Are you staying ahead of the curve? For instance, if you were a business that served authors, with the recent growth in AI, how did that impact them and what they need from you? If you haven’t answered that question in five years, you’re likely behind your competition. Speaking of… What are our competitors doing, and how can we differentiate ourselves? Analyze your competition to identify opportunities to stand out. Again, give them a fresh look. They may be doing new things you weren’t aware of. Additionally, sometimes your competition is not doing anything. If your ideal customer isn’t choosing you, are they choosing your competition or doing nothing? Why? How can we enhance our customer experience to build loyalty and drive referrals? Exceptional customer service is a powerful differentiator. Don’t assume your service is excellent just because you don’t hear complaints. If they’re not talking about you, you’re average. Actionable Step: Conduct a customer survey or analyze your customer feedback data. Research your competitors' online presence and marketing strategies. Strategic Questions for Future Growth Looking ahead is essential for long-term success. Consider these strategic questions: What are our long-term goals, and how can we achieve them? Develop a clear roadmap for the future. What new opportunities can we explore to expand our market reach? Consider new products, services, or markets. How can we innovate and adapt to changing market conditions? Agility is key to staying competitive. Actionable Step: Schedule a strategic planning session with your team. Brainstorm new ideas and develop a plan to implement them. The Power of "Why?" No, this time we’re not talking about YOUR why. Instead, channel your inner four-year-old and don't be content to stop at the surface. Dig deeper by asking "Why?" multiple times. This technique can help you uncover the root cause of problems and identify hidden opportunities. For example, instead of just asking "Why are sales down?" look at the larger picture and ask "Why are sales down? Why are customer leads down? Why is our marketing not generating enough leads?" Use the word “why” and “and” with each question you answer. Your learning and understanding will improve. Your Chamber is Your Partner in Growth Asking the right questions is just the beginning. Your chamber of commerce is here to support you on your growth journey. The chamber offers a range of resources to help you grow including: Networking events to connect with other business leaders Educational workshops and seminars to enhance your skills Access to valuable market data and industry insights Business counseling and mentorship Growth is a continuous process of learning, adapting, and innovating. By asking the right questions and leveraging the resources available to you, you can unlock your business's full potential. Then reach out to your chamber of commerce to explore how it can help you take your business to the next level.
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