Open Houses and Business After Hours are great ways to promote your business with the Chamber.  While these two events function very similarly to one another, there are some key differences to consider before deciding to have an event that introduces your business to our market.
 
 
Open House
 
An “open house” is an event held by a local business that invites Chamber members to visit their location and become more familiar with the products, services, employees, and management of the business, without any expectation that goods or services will be purchased.  This is a “get to know us better” event, to build community awareness around your business.
 

• Member businesses may schedule open houses at any time, with refreshments, entertainment, and other event features given at the member’s expense and discretion (see note 1 below).  

 

• When notified at least 30 days in advance, the Chamber will promote the open house weekly in our Monday Morning Minute e-newsletter, and will post (or share) at least one social media post related to the event (see note 2 below).  It is the responsibility of the member to post the event on the Member Information Center.

 

• The member business is responsible for creating and sending to the Chamber any digital marketing collateral, such as flyers and logos in pdf or jpeg format.  If no marketing collateral is received from the member, the Chamber will only promote the event by sharing the pertinent details known of the event (member business, location, date/time, etc.).

 

• There is no cost to members for the Chamber to promote an open house.  The Chamber will only promote one open house per member per calendar year.

 
 
Business After Hours
 
Much like an open house, a “business after hours” invites other Chamber members to visit and get to know your business better.  However, while an open house is held and hosted by a local business, a business after hours is held by the Chamber, sponsored by a local business, and hosted by both.  Here’s the difference:
 

• Only one Business After Hours will be scheduled per month, on the first Thursday of the month beginning at 5:30pm (see note 3 below).  Business After Hours usually conclude by 7:00pm.

 

• Promotion of a Business After Hours will take priority over an open house that is already scheduled.  The Chamber will promote the Business After Hours in our Monday Morning Minute e-newsletter, will share at least one Member Promotion broadcast email, and make social media posts prior to and following the event.

 

• The Chamber will create digital marketing collateral for the event.  While the member is welcome to create additional content, the Chamber’s branded collateral will be the primary content used to promote the event.  This Chamber-branded collateral gives assurance to members visiting the Business After Hours that it is being co-hosted by the Chamber.

 

• At least one staff member from the Chamber will attend the Business After Hours as a representative of the Wilson business community.

 

• The cost to a member to sponsor a Business After Hours is $500.  If space is available, the member may elect to host the event at the Wilson Chamber of Commerce for an additional $100 (see note 4 below).

 
 
Additional notes for hosting an Open House or Business After Hours:
 

1. Although not required unless hosted at the Chamber, light refreshments are customary at these events, and typically assure higher attendance.
2. The Chamber cannot guarantee a minimum attendance.  Events that are well-attended are marketed aggressively by the member (supplemented by Business After Hours promotions by the Chamber, as applicable).  Members who wish to limit attendance should communicate that intention to the Chamber, so that social media and other marketing efforts can be throttled accordingly.
3. In rare cases involving select Community Partners, the Chamber will occasionally host a Business After Hours outside of its regular schedule.  This schedule should be agreed to with the Chamber at least 90 days in advance.
4. If a member prefers not to host the Business After Hours at their place of business, they can request that the event be held at the Chamber for an additional cost of $100, which covers the cost of set up and breakdown of the event.  The member is also responsible for providing refreshments for at least 40 people if the event is held at the Chamber.  Availability of the Chamber facility is very limited and not guaranteed.

 
 
To schedule your Open House or Business After Hours, call the Chamber at 252-237-0165, or complete a Milestone Celebration Request form HERE.