From Biz2Biz NWA, January 2010, “The Business of Education”

By Janie Pritchett-Clark

Members of the Bentonville Bella Vista Chamber used to be segregated into two groups: Champions and General Membership. The Champions had business with Walmart, period, and they ponied up a significant annual membership to access programs that kept them current and connected.

It’s not surprising that general members pined for the same quality level exposure to programs relevant to small business. As networking attendance slimmed to a hard core few, Tammy Thurow knew it was time for a change. Thurow heads up the Chamber’s marketing and membership services for both membership groups.

For 2010, Bentonville Bella Vista Chamber rolls out its rebranding strategy with two membership groups aptly named: WalStreet and MainStreet. The rebranding comes with a new look, new programs and a new Web site. (www.bbvchamber.com) The logos were created by Heather Billgren, a student at NWACC, who submitted designs along with 11 of her classmates.

“The distinction between the two groups is necessary,” says Thurow, “because the needs of each group are different.” Many of the WalStreet members are Fortune 500 companies. “MainStreet designates the small business owner and entrepreneurs and WalStreet will identify the supplier community.”

“While other Chambers in the area have a unified membership makeup, the Bentonville Bella Vista Chamber is completely differentiated by its focus on the two main groups that comprise its membership, and by the caliber of its programming in meeting the needs of the member,” she says.

MainStreet members will now have access to educational opportunities that help them build their business or business skills.  In the works are programs on small business economy in Northwest Arkansas, taxation and small business, new media and marketing, entrepreneurship, health care reform, the impact of Cap and Trade, multi-cultural business, small business finance, HR, and business and financial planning.