Memberships with the Greater Westside Board of Trade
The Greater Westside Board of Trade is a local association of businesses that helps raise each Member’s visibility by providing marketing, networking and sales opportunities.
Advocacy
When a business joins the Board of Trade, they learn about rising government issues that affect business and add their voice to the Board of Trade’s efforts to address them. Equally important, the Board of Trade can then support them on the issues that concern their business. Further, your Board of Trade presents your concerns to the appropriate government officials. We serve the community by sponsoring political forums and invite prominent individuals and groups to speak to our community at various networking events. The Board of Trade works closely with municipal, native, regional and provincial governments, speaking for the business community at public hearings, to the media and behind closed doors. Advocating on behalf of members is a key role of the Board of Trade. We are also proud members of the BC Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce which means all of our members belong as well.
Benefits
The Board of Trade can give a company of any size, from one employee to hundreds of employees, including home-based businesses, access to tangible financial benefits including group insurance for medical, dental and disability, as it uses its pooled membership to secure better rates. Group buying power also leads to preferred merchant service rates and features discounts on fuel, hotels, payroll processing and travel. There is a list of benefits under member discounts – contact us if you require further info on any of them.
Marketing
At the Board of Trade office, you have referral privileges by displaying business cards and/or company brochures. You can also have posted on the website a 150 word summary description of your business and your logo. Member e-blasts (let’s support our local members first!) and other important information relating to running a successful business are distributed regularly. Every member is entitled to one complimentary e-blast a year. Other marketing opportunities can be found under marketing opportunities.
Events
Complimentary admission for members to regular events and Business After Hours. Member privileges for vendor booths at various events, such as Valley-Wide Business After Hours.
Please check the website regularly for upcoming events as The Greater Westside Board of Trade and our members are always adding new upcoming events.