WASHINGTON - A national study by The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta-based market research firm, reveals important findings about how consumers and business owners perceive local Chamber of Commerce members. For example:

• When consumers know that a business is a member of the local Chamber they are 44% more likely to think favorably of it.
• Consumers who are told that a business is a Chamber member are 51% more likely to be highly aware of it and 57% more likely to think positively of its local reputation.
• Consumers are 63% more likely to buy goods and services in the future from a company that they believe is a member of the local Chamber of Commerce.

The study also finds that when business decision makers believe a business is a Chamber member, they are 37% more likely to think favorably of the business, 51% more likely to be highly aware of it, 58% more likely to think positively of it, and 59% more likely to buy goods and services from it. The study also reveals a positive perception for Chambers:

Regarding the Chamber’s impact on the local economy, 82% of the respondents believe that the local Chamber of Commerce helps create jobs and promotes local economic development.

The results of the Schapiro study are clear: Positive perception increases among consumers and business owners alike when a business is identified as a member of the local Chamber of Commerce.