Chamber welcomes new members
by Brian DiTullio

CAREFREE – The Carefree/ Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce welcomed some new members last week as the new Web site is about to go live.

Chamber director Ian Ellison said he is planning to have these orientation meetings on a quarterly basis to help new members along and encourage them to stay beyond the first year.

“The first few months (for a new business) are busy for them,” said Ellison. “There’s a lot going on. Now they know who we are, who the board of directors are and the ambassadors.”

Ellison stressed the importance of breaking the ice with new members, otherwise the “new” member could become a “former” member.

“We try and touch all the areas of business and what we can provide for them,” he said.

Karen Cimaglia, owner of The Car Source, a personal automotive broker, said the orientation meeting on June 1 was great for a couple of reasons.

“It helps for businesses to get the most you can out of the chamber,” said Cimaglia. “You join the chamber for exposure, and hopefully the business follows. It gets you familiar with the area, who can help me, and who can I help.”

One feature available to new members is the newest version of the chamber’s Web site, which designer Paris Toon said is available to be viewed by all members and should be active for the public to access “any day.”

The new Web site, under construction for about two months, gives chamber members their very own home page, whether they have their own Web site or not. Toon did the work on a volunteer basis, but now has opened an office next door to the chamber offices on Easy Street.

“People will be able to sell their own product from the site. Restaurants can show their menus,” said Toon, adding the new Web site has a map feature as well. “So not only can you see what you can get at a restaurant, you can find out how to get to the restaurant.”

Toon gave the chamber board of directors a “tour” of the new Web site and its features last week. “They’re excited about the business to business features. They like the advancements.”

Toon said his business goal is to educate all the businesses in Carefree and Cave Creek about the Web site’s potential and marketing possibilities before the Easy Street project is finished.

“Companies have to take advantage of what’s out there before the new companies move in,” said Toon.