This year the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber launched a new recurring event called "Osceola Round-Up." The goal of this event is to highlight our attraction and entertainment members while providing an evening of networking in a fun environment. As with our First Friday series that highlights our member restaurants, attendees at this event pay their own way to participate in the attraction or activity, and the Chamber brings the group setting!
Wild Florida
We kicked off our first Osceola Round-Up on March 30 at Wild Florida. Our group took an airboat ride on Lake Toho where they had the opportunity to spot gators in their natural habitat, as well as birds and other wildlife native to Florida. For some, it was their very first time on an airboat, one of Floridians' favorite ways to explore. They then ventured over to Wild Florida's animal park to experience the unique wildlife that the park has to offer. From Florida panthers and albino alligators, to wallabies and adorable baby goats, Wild Florida has a collection of native and non-native animals for visitors to meet and learn about. During the day, shows and demonstrations add to the educational value of the park. Our group didn't have time on their after-work adventure to experience Wild Florida's new drive-through Safari park, but several were anxious to return and check it out! Both the Safari and Airboat Ride at Wild Florida include admission to the animal park.
Gatorland
The April Osceola Round-Up took us to Gatorland for a Gator Night Shine Adventure. Our intimate group of 20 members started the excursion doing what we do best, fueling up for the excitement on delicious food and drinks. Gatorland set up a custom snack bar complete with build-your-own Dorito nachos made to go because, as the tour guide pointed out, “you never know when you might need to outrun a gator.” After enjoying this fun snack and a cool beverage, our group had the park to themselves and set off on a journey to explore some of Gatorland's signature residents. Attendees even had the opportunity to hold baby gators and massive snakes! As the sun set, our Chamber crew made their way to the main event: Gatorland's Night Shine Adventure. Armed with flashlights, the group walked deep into the park to a long bridge over calm black water. It was pitch black, the water was still, and the only sounds came from the silent chatter of the group. Tour guide Michael hollered and threw pellets of food into the water to invite his reptilian friends to the party. With the aid of flashlights, the group could see over 50 gators begin to emerge from the water for a late-night snack in what one attendee described as "epic." Gators of all sizes and temperaments chomped aggressively for the pellets, while others just chilled as bits of food ended up lodged on their backs. While gators and wild animals may provide a thrill, our favorite part was watching attendees form connections over the event. Newer members had an opportunity to meet veteran members who welcomed them into our Chamber and shared information about how being a part of the Chamber has helped their business. Many of them were also experiencing these popular local attractions for the first time!We can't thank Wild Florida and Gatorland enough for being our guinea pigs as we launched this new series. For a change of pace, our next Osceola Round-Up will be at Board and Brush on May 13. You can still register if you wish to join us!
On March 10, the Osceola Resort Area Council made their first foray back into in-person networking with an evening event at the brand new, new-concept Shoney’s at Old Town. ORAC invited tourism industry professionals to visit the outdoor bar location at the new restaurant along Highway 192, sample their menu, and re-kindle and create new connections with others in their industry.
Old Town and Shoney’s sponsored a selection of food and beverage, and some brave attendees even took a complimentary ride on the Old Town Ferris wheel. The weather cooperated, and a cool breeze nicely complemented the outdoor setting. Attendees dropped their business cards into a raffle bucket and several people walked away with fun prizes including attraction tickets and hotel stays.
ORAC Chair and Old Town General Manager Thearon Scrulock took a few minutes to speak to those in attendance, as did West 192 Development Authority Director Christina Morris, Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber President/CEO John Newstreet, and Tourist Development Council member Brad Boland.
John Newstreet thanked everyone for coming and gave recognition to the ORAC Board of Directors for their work putting the event together. Christina Morris informed those present that, as guests at Old Town, they were standing in District 5 – the “Entertainment District” – of the West 192 Development Authority. She went on to talk about some of the incentives available for businesses looking to re-develop or invest in the tourism corridor. Brad Boland spoke about how exciting it is to see tourism industry businesses in the county start to open up and welcome guests as things begin to look more like normal.
If you missed this opportunity to network with other members, join the Celebration Area Council for a similar event at Old Town on April 6.
Whether it’s your first or 15th year of business, there are many business tools and tactics available to help take your business to the next level. From regularly attending local networking events to making sure your business is searchable online, these are just two strategies every business owner should consider implementing. On the blog, we go over these and six other ways you can help grow your business in Osceola.
A chamber of commerce functions as an association and network of businesspeople that promote economic development and collaborations with large and small business owners through events and meetings. Local chambers of commerce can also promote and advocate their members’ interests in the community at legislative meetings and luncheons. However, one of the biggest perks a chamber of commerce can provide to your business is that its function as an organization is to help you. Think of a chamber of commerce as a tool available for you to use in your business management utility belt.
According to Oberlo, “Google processes over 3.5 billion searches per day.” From the random questions like, “How many seeds are in a strawberry?” to more specific inquiries like, “How to start a business in Kissimmee,'' Google processes them all. When you build a website for your business, you’re able to tell online searchers about your company, where you’re located, and, most importantly, include target keywords based on your products or services. By building an online website for your business, you enable Google and other search engines to look at your website and recommend you to potential customers or leads.
Depending on what industry you’re a part of, there might be specific professional industry associations or groups that can help your business grow in Kissimmee or Saint Cloud. For example, if you’re a real estate agent, you might consider joining the Osceola County Association of Realtors. Associations like this allow you to network with other business members in the same industry as you and remove the “vetting process” that comes with lead nurturing and gathering.
Are you trying to find more local qualified business leads? Learn more about our Leads Groups!
According to Statista, Facebook alone has 2.9 billion registered users worldwide and 180 million Facebook users in the United States specifically. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok are just some of the most popular social media apps that your future customers are using. Similar to how your website works, your business’s social media profiles allow users to learn more about you, your products and services, and, more importantly, what other people think about you. From customer reviews to direct messages, social media allows you to have one-on-one conversations with your customers to learn more about their pain points and how you can help solve their problems in the present and in the future.
While networking with people may seem intimidating, it’s one of the best ways to build professional connections. At local networking events in St. Cloud and Kissimmee, you’ll be able to meet with other business owners face-to-face that are just as eager to make a connection as you. Check out our events calendar to see what upcoming luncheons, business after hours, and networking events we’re hosting throughout Osceola County.
Whether you are selling products or services, showing up and having a presence at local community events in Osceola County is another great way to grow your local business. Being in front of people and allowing them to see and test out your product can create fans of your products and business. If your company offers a service, demonstrating how your service works can help potential customers or leads better understand your service and solve their problems.
If you’re looking to reach new customers and grow sales, it might be time to consider purchasing low-cost advertising. But, before you go shopping around for media space, consider exactly who your ideal customer is. Thinking about your ideal customer’s shopping habits and how they get information before the media buying process helps you decide whether to run an ad on Facebook or run a coupon promotion with a local publication like Osceola News-Gazette. Make sure to ask for their reach, audience size, and markets before you buy to confirm you’re making the best decision for your business!
The Florida Small Business Development Center is an organization that helps people start, build and grow their businesses through training programs and strategy meetings. From business workshops to free business consultations, their organization can help businesses of all industries throughout their journey. One of the best features their agency offers is free business strategy consultations with one of their counselors. These counselors have representatives across eight counties in Central Florida, including Osceola County. These reps are knowledgeable about our market background and can help you with business management tactics and strategies.
These are just eight ways you can help grow your business in Kissimmee, St. Cloud, or wherever your business operates in Osceola County. Are you inspired and ready to take your business to the next level? Check out the benefits of joining our Chamber of Commerce and see what package would work best for you and your business.
