From the Chairman …
   R. Michael Johnson

I am excited to be writing you for the first time as the Chairman of YOUR Orangeburg Chamber of Commerce.  At our Chamber Board planning session for the coming year, our goal was to not only continue providing the value the Chamber has always extended its members, but also improving our efforts informing you of that value.  Also, I must admit to being blessed with the largest membership roles in many years for YOUR Chamber.  With your continued support, we can continue to make Orangeburg a better place to live, work and play.

For the enormous group of Chamber members that joined us for the annual banquet in November, you might remember my version of “Remember the Alamo!”  My charge to our Board this year is to bring value to the membership with the slogan, “It is time to do business in Orangeburg!”

Last week, I read an October 15 article by Karen Datko from a web blog called “The Simple Dollar.”  The article was simply entitled, “Is buying local worth the extra cost?” and subtitled, “You won't find that extra customer service in most big-box stores.”

In the article, Ms. Datko referenced an independent book store and a local record store that had gone out of business in her local community.  Much like Ms. Datko, I remember frequenting many of Orangeburg’s local stores while growing up in our community.  (Many of which have persevered against the mounting odds.)  I still remember to this day my Mom taking me on trips to Palmetto Office Supply and Ferse’s 5&10 to find all of my school needs.  I sure am glad they are still part of our community.  My son still enjoys visiting those businesses today.

I still remember visiting Palmetto Office Supply and before we even told the staff what we needed, they were practically already putting it in the bag.  What made it special was that you could roughly describe your needs and get exactly what you wanted.  In fact, if you needed to open a tube of paint to look at it, the staff did not mind, in fact, they assisted you.   Even when you chose not to buy it, they didn't seem to mind.

Just today, I was speaking with friends at Home Builder’s Supply.  They were complimenting local Orangeburg businesses for choosing to buy local because they recognized the value of a supplier ready to serve.  I could also extend the compliment as people from Home Builder’s Supply to the Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities buy their wood products from my family’s business right here in Orangeburg.

Over time, small businesses die not from losing one big customer, but rather from losing hundreds of small ones. What makes these losses even more painful is the slow attrition of customers to merchants with no sense of community and community betterment.  Unfortunately, the realization does not hit us until one day; we realize those that cared about our community and provided good service are gone.

Take a moment this week, when seeking a vendor for anything from catering to office supplies and go to www.orangeburgchamber.com.  Click on “Information and Services,” and see if the first vendor you had in mind supports YOUR Chamber of Commerce.  If you do not have a vendor in mind, search the site and give one of YOUR fellow Chamber members a try.  Having just done this in recent weeks, I cannot assure you the vendor will meet all of your needs, but I can assure you a positive feeling of supporting our community.  And I can also assure you, if you are unhappy with your vendor, you will know where to find them to make it right!

“It is time to do business in Orangeburg!”

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