Two suggestions for possible chamber name change
Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce looking to “focus” organization and freshen look
The Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce has hired a local marketing firm to freshen up its “visual identity” through a new logo, website and possibly updated name, said chamber CEO Kathleen Yurchesyn.
A survey launched in May by the chamber indicated a strong interest in change, specifically to a name that is more inclusive of its 300 or so members in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
With more than 80 per cent of 130 members who responded to the survey indicating a name change is warranted, another survey was sent out Friday asking for opinions on what the organization should be called.
The suggested names are the Metro Cape Breton Chamber of Commerce and the Eastern Cape Breton Chamber of Commerce. There’s also an option for respondents to submit a name of their choice. The survey will remain open until the first part of next week.
Sydney marketing firm Anchored Ideas Ltd. was chosen through a request for proposals process to work on the rebranding exercise, Yurchesyn said Wednesday.
“The name change, as it was written in the beginning of this second survey, is just one step moving towards a more inclusive
community focus where we’re looking beyond just Sydney,” she said. “And, of course, actions do speak louder than words. We have to do a good job of that through action, making connections in the many communities we serve through CBRM.”
There have been several meetings with the chamber’s board of directors and a “stakeholder engagement session” was held last week to garner more feedback
before handing over the job to Anchored Ideas.
The findings from the second survey will be presented to the board “soon,” although there is no guarantee the group will choose one of the two suggested names for the chamber, according to Yurchesyn.
“The weight of the survey, and the reason why we’re going out to our larger community to get feedback, is so we can have an understanding of what are the
feeling around those two (names) we suggested.”
Changing the name of the chamber has been brought up as an issue on “numerous occasions” since taking over as chamber CEO in early April, she said.
It’s anticipated the rebranding, including a redesigned website, will be completed by early fall.