GET NOTICED WITH US!
The Southwestern Chamber of Commerce works with member businesses and organizations to give a well-rounded, holistic approach to their marketing plans. Below see a variety of ways you can work with us to get your brand and story out to the masses!
First, Learn Whats Free With Your Membership
Listing on this website: As a member of the SWVT Chamber check yourself out on our directory! You’re looking good!
Listing in our annual Travel Guide: This is the travel guide of the region acting as both encyclopedia, story teller, map and best places to stop brochure. Check out the virtual edition here and below
Community Calendar Posting: This page is visited over 1,000 times a month by residents and travelers alike. Hit the submit button, easy upload and we will review your posting to approve! Check it out here: SWVTChamber.com/calendar
Weekly Friday E-Blast Event Posting: If you post in the community calendar this automatically gets you qualified to get on the Friday E-Blast to our members.
Displays at the State Welcome Center (Highway 279): We are currently looking for displays to go into our display case at the Bennington State Welcome Center on Highway 279! First come first serve - register with our Welcome Center staff. Many members have seen an uptick in walk-ins to their shop due to this feature! Email our Welcome Center Manager, PJ DeVito, if interested!
Bulk Mailing Permit: In partnership with the United States Post Office, we offer a discounted bulk mailing permit for your direct mail pieces. You need to mail at least 200 pieces to be effective. Email our membership manager to get access.
Rack Cards at the State Welcome Center (Highway 279): Of course we have many spots for rack cards! Our chamber members get these spots for free! Email our Welcome Center Manager, PJ DeVito, if interested!
Art Wall at the State Welcome Center (Highway 279): Perhaps a less known opportunity at our Welcome Center is our art wall. The wall is free for a month; first come, first serve! Email our Welcome Center Manager, PJ DeVito, if interested!
You: Sometimes the best advertisment is you and your engagement with networking functions. The Chamber provides many programs to get you out there meeting other members and selling your business! Check them out our Networking Mixers Here! Check out our member programs here!
What Costs Money
Travel Guide
The Shires of Southwestern Vermont Travel Guide has been in existence for more than 50 years. This is the travel guide of the region acting as both encyclopedia, story teller, map and best places to stop brochure. The guide is a 5.25x8, saddle stitched, 104 page Travel Guide that can be stuffed, rolled, penciled in - for the use of our beloved travelers and tourists!
On any give year we publish between 40K-60K. We distributed to our lodging, dining and business members, hand them out at the chamber and State Welcome Center and utilize them at our festivals and events. We also highlight them in our 25+ Shires Distribution Program as well.
Shires Distribution Program
The Shires of Vermont Brochure Distribution route includes over 25 high traffic locations throughout the region. 20 beautiful brochure racks hold over 30 brochures and feature an inset graphic with local information. Additional locations utilize generic racks in order to increase the exposure of your brochures.
We are excited to see the growth of this local business network that helps drive visitors to new places. If you are interested in an affordable option for brochure distribution in Southern Vermont fill out the form below and one of our representatives will be in touch with you.
State Welcome Center in Bennington (Highway 279) - The Senator James Jeffords Welcome Center
The Welcome Center opened in 2013 and is run by the state and the Southwestern Chamber of Chamber of Commerce. Some 140,000 visit the Welcome Center every year. The Welcome Center is a beacon for many weary travelers entering Vermont. But don’t take our word for it, ready this Yelp review: During my first trip to Vermont, this was a great place to stop. Conveniently located on Route 7, it is brand new (built in 2013), immaculate, rustic and with an open feeling. You could probably eat off the floors and in the bathroom, it was THAT clean. The staff were so nice, encouraged us to bring our dogs inside and even had a water bowl for them. There are tons of brochures, maps and guides for everything to do in the state. There is a free coffee/tea station and some local artwork and sculptures to look at. The outside of the center is very green and scenic and there are Adirondack chairs to take a seat. We stopped back on our way home from VT and got the same warm welcome.
Advertising at the Welcome Center
Posters: We have 20 spots to advertise your business with a poster board. The membership cost to advertise with a poster for a full year is $400. Download spec sheet here.
Displays: We are currently looking for displays to go into our display case for 2021-2022. First come first serve - register with our Welcome Center staff. Many members have seen an uptick in walk-ins to their shop due to this feature!
Rack Cards: Of course we have many spots for rack cards! Our chamber members get these spots for free!
Art Wall: Perhaps a less known opportunity at our Welcome Center is our art wall. The wall is free for a month; first come, first serve!
Mailings and E-Newsletters
One of the quickest, most engaging ways to reach people is through our carefully nurtured membership or subscription lists via Constant Contact.
Mailing Labels: With over 400 stakeholders and members, we can provide you with mailing labels printed from our office for your next direct mail piece! Cost: $40
Friday Members and Stakeholder
E-Newsletter (E-blast) “Sponsorship”
Friday Members and Stakeholder
E-Newsletter (E-blast) “Ad”
“Signature” e-Newsletter to
Members and Stakeholders
This email goes to over 1,000 chamber member business, organizations, stakeholders and representatives. Average open rate is 43% with a 7% click rate.
$200/week
Show your support for the Chamber
Be featured at the top fold of the newsletter
Have your logo, link and button prominently displayed
Specs: 7(L)x5(W) logo and link to your website
This email goes to over 1,000 chamber member business, organizations, stakeholders and representatives. Average open rate is 43% with a 7% click rate.
$150/ad/week
Get a full colored ad for what you’re looking for
Get the attention of members and ways they can help
Ad is clickable and trackable!
Specs: 7(L)x5(W) logo and link to your website
This is an email dedicated just to you! With over 1,000 members and stakeholders, we can send this email out to highlight a sale, event, and more.
$500 (limited to twice a month/2 purchases a quarter)
Showcase your brand only
No other members featured
Work with chamber design team to create the e-newsletter
Provide images, content and link
Sample ads from members:
The Shires of Southwestern Vermont Tourism e-Newsletter
The Shires of Southwestern Vermont tourism e-Blast goes out to over 10,000 subscribed travelers as we introduce them to events, travel seasons and more. Average open rate is 44% with a click rate of 4%.
Cost: $1,500/mailing
Highlight to travelers and tourists your upcoming event, sale, experience and more!
This is a list of engaged readers from past travel shows, visits, check ins and forms - they have engaged with Vermont before!
Dedicate the whole newsletter to your brand and message
Work with the chamber design team to build out content, images, links, videos and more!
Sponsorship
The Chamber of Commerce creates, designs, and implements a number of programs and events that support our mission to create a healthy business ecosystem and safe community in The Shires of Southwestern Vermont. With the limitation of our funding (being a not-for-profit organization), we rely on partners like you to help us achieve our mission and vision.
Sponsorship and partner opportunities provide a variety of platforms for advertising, branding, networking and engagement for your organization. These contributions are a great way to position you as a business leader in our region.