Chambre de commerce de l'île Mercer

Construire une île Mercer plus forte grâce à la défense, au soutien et au développement des entreprises.

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ÎLE MERCER
CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE

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Promouvoir la vitalité économique de Mercer Island par le biais d'événements de plaidoyer, de leadership et de renforcement communautaire ♦ Offrir des opportunités de référence et de réseautage qui facilitent le développement de partenariats stratégiques entre les entreprises ♦ Publier un bulletin d'information sur les nouvelles de la Chambre et de la communauté ♦ Organiser des événements communautaires qui attirent les gens et les entreprises sur l'île ♦ Servir de centre d'information, en proposant des cartes et des informations démographiques ♦ Reconnaître les réalisations de la communauté d'affaires ♦ Offrir des opportunités de publicité et de parrainage ♦ Présenter de nouvelles entreprises à la communauté


Porte d'entrée de l'île Mercer

Fondée en 1946, la Chambre de commerce de Mercer Island a une longue histoire de défense et de promotion des membres, de ressources éducatives et d'opportunités de réseautage.


Pour les entreprises de Mercer Island

Représentant un ensemble diversifié d'entreprises, nous travaillons en partenariat avec notre communauté et le gouvernement local pour aider nos membres à progresser, à grandir et à prospérer. Grâce à la formation commerciale, au réseautage, aux événements communautaires, au plaidoyer et à la représentation, la Chambre de commerce de Mercer Island s'engage à aider chaque membre à grandir et à prospérer.

« Travailler avec nous ouvre une énorme opportunité de croissance »

Nouveaux membres


Dernier article du blog d'entreprise


27 janvier 2026
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19 janvier 2026
It’s a simple question. Slightly uncomfortable. Surprisingly revealing. If you stepped away from your business for two weeks starting tomorrow, no email, no Slack, no “just checking in,” what would fall apart? Most business owners don’t love this thought experiment. Not because they’re doing anything wrong, but because many small businesses are built on proximity. You are the system. You are the memory. You are the fixer of last resort. That works. Until it doesn’t. We’re not suggesting this asking this question only when you’re about to plan a sabbatical or if you’re fantasizing about a beach with no Wi-Fi. This should be a quarterly question you ask yourself to test the resilience of your business. What Usually Breaks First When owners walk through this question honestly, a few pressure points show up again and again. Decision bottlenecks are common. If every approval, answer, or green light runs through you, progress slows the moment you step away. Not because your team isn’t capable, but because the rules live in your head. You’ve painted yourself into a corner, which at first feels good because the business needs you. But then the very thing that felt good starts wearing on you and you can’t get a moment’s peace even when you need one. Customer communication is another. Clients know to “just call you” because you’ve always been responsive and why start at the bottom of the ladder if you can head straight to the top? That’s a compliment. It’s also a vulnerability. Then there’s institutional knowledge . Passwords. Vendor contacts. Renewal dates. The little things that keep operations moving quietly in the background. When they aren’t documented, they’re fragile. None of this means your business is poorly run. It means it’s human. The Myth of “I’ll Get to it Later” Many owners tell themselves they’ll systemize “when things slow down.” The problem is that things rarely slow down on their own. Growth adds complexity. Success adds volume. Even good seasons create strain. Waiting for the perfect time to document processes or delegate authority often means never doing it at all. And the cost shows up in subtle ways: missed opportunities, delayed responses, and burnout disguised as dedication. Don’t remove yourself from the business. Just remove yourself as the single point of failure. Start Smaller Than You Think You don’t need a 50-page operations manual to make meaningful progress. In fact, starting that big is usually why people never start at all. Instead, focus on a two-week lens. Ask yourself three questions: · What decisions would stall without me? · What questions would my team or customers ask first? · What information only exists in my inbox or my head? Then document just those things. If this seems overwhelming, dictate them to AI and instruct it to create an operations manual around that topic or create a shared document with clear “if this, then that” guidance. Include a short list of who handles what when you’re unavailable and a basic contact list for vendors and partners. Go for clarity. Delegation as Leadership, not Abdication One of the fears that holds people back from doing this is loss of control. They worry if they hand over the reins that it will be done incorrectly. Maybe. Sometimes. But leadership isn’t preventing mistakes at all costs. It’s building capacity so the business doesn’t depend on one person’s constant presence. Delegation done well includes context, not just tasks. It explains the why, not just the what. When people understand how decisions should be made, they don’t need to wait for permission. That’s how trust compounds. Another fear is the fear of being replaced. “If I give up my knowledge, they won’t need me.” You may also be afraid that if “I share my knowledge employees will leave me.” The latter can happen anyway and if you give them opportunity for growth, they’ll be less likely to do so. Why This Planning Matters Beyond Vacations Even if you never plan to take two weeks away, this exercise still matters. Life happens. Illness. Family needs. Unexpected opportunities. A business that can’t be flexible creates stress when flexibility is needed most. On the flip side, a business that can run without constant oversight is more valuable, more attractive to partners and high-performing employees, and more resilient in changing conditions. That’s not just good for you. It’s good for your employees, your customers, and your community. Where Your Chamber Fits In This is where chambers quietly shine. You don’t have to solve this alone. Chambers of commerce connect you to peers who’ve already tackled these challenges. They host workshops on operations, leadership, and succession planning. They introduce you to service providers who help businesses document processes, strengthen teams, and plan for growth. They may also offer AI training that can show you easy, efficient ways to put together the manual that will make all of this possible. Just as importantly, chambers give you space to think strategically instead of reactively. Roundtables. Mentorship. Conversations that pull you out of the weeds and back into the role of leader. If this article made you pause, that’s a signal. Start the conversation. Ask your chamber what resources are available. Check out its calendar to see what low-cost (or even free) resources are available. Reach out to another member and compare notes. You built a business to feed yourself and your family, but you’re past that stage now. You’re helping to feed others too. It’s time you ensure they can feed themselves as well.
20 novembre 2025
As we enter this beautiful holiday season, I want to share something close to my heart: the power of genuine connection and community building for our small businesses.  After more than a decade of networking and bringing business owners together, I've seen firsthand how the relationships we build during the holidays can transform our businesses and our lives. This isn't just about exchanging business cards, it's about creating a supportive community where we all thrive together. Why Holiday Networking Matters for Our Community The holidays offer something special: people are more open, more generous, and more willing to connect authentically. When we come together during this season, we're not just building business relationships, we're strengthening the fabric of our entire business community. We Lift Each Other Up Small business ownership comes with unique challenges. When we network, we create a circle of fellow entrepreneurs who truly understand the journey. These connections become our cheerleaders, our advisors, and our friends. Together, we're stronger. We Expand Our Reach Every conversation is an opportunity to share your story and discover new possibilities. When you authentically connect with others, they become ambassadors for your business, naturally sharing about you with their own networks. This organic growth is powerful and sustainable. We Learn From Each Other Our community is full of wisdom and experience. Through networking, we share insights, strategies, and lessons learned. This collective knowledge helps all of us become better business owners and community leaders. We Create Collaborative Opportunities Some of the most exciting business growth happens when small businesses collaborate. Through meaningful networking, you'll discover partners whose strengths complement yours, opening doors to joint ventures, cross-promotions, and shared success. Simple Ways to Network This Holiday Season You don't need a complicated strategy or perfect pitch. Here's how to connect authentically this season: Join Community Events Look for holiday gatherings, Chamber events, local fundraisers, or business mixers. Come as yourself, with an open heart and genuine curiosity about others. The best connections happen when we're authentic. Reach Out With Gratitude Send personalized holiday messages to your business connections. Share your appreciation for their support and friendship this year. These thoughtful gestures strengthen bonds and keep relationships warm. Create Connection Spaces Consider hosting a casual gathering, a coffee meet-up, a virtual celebration, or a holiday open house. When you create spaces for others to connect, you become a community builder, and that's invaluable. Give Back Together Partner with fellow business owners to volunteer during the holidays. Serving your community together builds deep, meaningful connections while making a positive impact. Always Follow Through After meeting someone new, reach out within a few days. Share that resource you mentioned, make that introduction you promised, or simply say how much you enjoyed meeting them. Reliability builds trust. Lead With Generosity Here's what I've learned at The Networking Bee Group: the strongest networks are built on generosity, not transactions. When you focus on how you can support others, help them succeed, and contribute to the community, everything changes. People remember your kindness. They trust you. They want to collaborate with you and refer others to you. This community-first approach isn't just good for business, it's good for the soul. Your Holiday Networking Action Plan I invite you to commit to three simple actions this season: 1. Attend at least one Chamber or community networking event. 2. Send personalized thank-you messages to five business connections expressing genuine appreciation. 3. Connect two people in your network who could benefit from knowing each other. These small, intentional steps create ripples of connection throughout our entire business community. Let's Grow Together At Seattle Agenda and The Networking Bee Group, our mission is simple: to help small businesses build authentic connections that lead to real growth. This holiday season, I encourage you to embrace networking not as a business task, but as an opportunity to build the collaborative, supportive community we all deserve. When small businesses work together and lift each other up, our entire community flourishes. Let's make this holiday season the beginning of meaningful connections that carry us into a prosperous new year. Here's to community, collaboration, and connection. Lynette VGarcia Blanks
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