Deskbook Directory

Thank you to the residents of Manchester, to area business people, and to our Chamber members. You continue to make the GMCC Deskbook Directory a favorite and popular resource when shopping for goods and services in the Manchester area.

Now in its sixth year, the GMCC Deskbook Directory is a one-stop reference source for prospective and existing residents and businesses in the Manchester area.

Designed to be "user-friendly," the GMCC Deskbook Directory combines a 17-month calendar with both alphabetical and business category listings of all chamber members making it convenient to look up the doctor’s phone number, schedule the appointment, and write it on the calendar, all in one easy, convenient location.

The 2007-2008 Directory will continue the spiral bound deskbook defanged style that makes it so popular. And contains historic and updated demographic data, as well as information concerning education, emergency, medical, and social services, the arts, sports, recreation and a map of the Greenway in the "About Manchester Section."

"About the Chamber" includes details of annual chamber activities, photos, and information about the benefits of chamber membership. Also included is historical information about the Greater Manchester Chamber along with highlights of our past 100 years of service to the business community.

"Only chamber members are included in the directory. All of our member businesses are listed twice, simply because they are chamber members," says Sue O'Connor, chamber president. "The alphabetical listing is followed by the business directory listing. Similar to the telephone book, this section lists chamber members according to their types of business: manufacturers, florists, grocery stores, etc."

Advertising sales pay for the publication of the directory and allow the book to be given away. The majority of advertisers have been with the publication since its first edition in 1996, an indication that the directory is truly a useful marketing tool for its advertisers.

"I always stress to my reps that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get return. The best advertising comes from being a part of the community you live in," says Sue Davis, Branch Sales Manager, RISO, Inc., and annual advertiser in the Directory. "The Chamber of Commerce is the beginning to your success. The chamber works with its members to provide solutions for happy and healthy business relationships. And the GMCC Directory is a big part of the Manchester community. It is the best published document, and lasts all year so you really get your monies worth."

Scheduled to hit the streets early in October, the 3,500 copies of the directory will be given away to area residents, chamber members, town and state offices, and prospective members. It will also be distributed at various locations throughout town, as well as in member bank lobbies, businesses, hotels, and at the chamber.

"The directory literally flies out of our office and other locations. It’s great to see the directory so widely used and accepted," says O'Connor. "And when you use the directory, please be sure to tell the particular business that you got their name from the chamber’s directory."

As in the past, the 2007-2008 edition of the GMCC Deskbook Directory will be a product of the chamber’s membership. This team effort combines the work of chamber staff with the expertise of members, New Image Printers, Dave Thorstenson Photography, and O’Connor & Associates, proving once again, that "you don’t have to drive hundreds of miles and spend hundreds of dollars to find the experts," says O'Connor. "The experts are right here in the Manchester Chamber."

To find out about membership in the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and how your business can be included in the 2008-2009 edition of the GMCC Deskbook Directory, please call April, 646-2223. She’ll be happy to meet with you to discuss the chamber and it’s upcoming Directory.