Is your organization looking for opportunities to share your business acumen with current and potential clients, want to get the word out about important news in your industry, and want to be seen as a business leader that is committed to sharing your wealth of knowledge? Or maybe you have business news you want to share, such as a new product or service you offer, a new owner/manager you want to introduce to the community, or the expansion of your business to a new location.

The Chamber’s Fremont Business Now newsletter provides important business information for our City’s business community and enjoys a monthly estimated readership of a few thousand East Bay residents and business owners and managers. Fremont Business Now offers three unique ways for chamber members to share their expertise and promote their business. There is no cost to utilize these
opportunities.

#1 Member News – Members may submit a 100 word or less news brief about recent business accomplishments or business enhancements. Members may submit articles about a new employee, a new service, or winning an industry award.

#2 Business Article – Members are invited to submit an article that demonstrates their business acumen. Submission should be approximately 500 words in length and adhere to the Editorial Guidelines.

#3 Guest Editor – Members are encouraged to volunteer to act as Guest Editor for an issue. The Guest Editor is responsible for contacting members to write and submit articles for the issue, in addition to writing a Guest Editor message.

Interested in sharing your expertise or business announcements with your fellow Chamber members or other community and business leaders? Begin today by contacting us at [email protected].

A business marketplace booth is a member benefit

July, 2022 - The Fremont Chamber of Commerce invites you to participate in our premiere summer event, the Fremont Festival of the Arts. The Fremont Festival of the Arts will be held on Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7, 2022, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. This event features hundreds of top quality arts & crafts booths, artisanal prepackaged foods in the Gourmet Marketplace; food booths benefiting non-profit organizations; gourmet food trucks offering a variety of delicious street eats also benefiting non-profits; beer, wine, margaritas sold alongside keepsake glasses; continuous music featured on two stages; street performers, including face painters, henna tattoos, balloon artists, and more; Kid City filled with rides, games, and live performances just for the youngsters. We also feature Fremont Chamber members in the Business Marketplace section of the Fremont Festival of the Arts.

Having a booth is a prime tool for promoting your business. Here are some reasons to have a booth at the Fremont Festival of the Arts:

• Gives you the opportunity to interact one on one and attain a comfort level with a potential new customer in a fun setting, leading to more successful leads.
• Increased community awareness of the programs and offerings that you provide to residents of the SF Bay Area.
• A great way for you to get out and meet the public, talk to families, answer questions and become better known.
• Gain access to nearly 300,000 potential customers.
• Acquire greater visibility within the community.
• Reach an audience to which you may not normally have access.

To apply for this event, please complete the application and return it to the Fremont Chamber of Commerce no later than 12:00 PM on July 25, 2022. Each applicant must fill out the General Info page, the Payment page, sign the Rules and Regulations, provide Resale License information, submit a Certificate of Insurance (and if applicable submit proof of their Health Permit application) before they can be accepted into the event. Don’t miss this great opportunity to participate in one of the Bay Area’s most popular events. Space is limited and sold on a first come, first served basis. Apply TODAY! 

2022 Business Marketplace Applications can be found on the Fremont Festival website: fremontfestival.net

UPDATE: the next Fremont Festival is August 5 & 6, 2023. Applications will drop early 2023

Marketing Strategies to Success

By Cindy Bonior
CEO, Fremont Chamber of Commerce

Even as the confines of COVID begin to fade, the road to recovery lies ahead and for most, it will be a long haul. Now’s the time to employ all resources available to your business. Here are some robust marketing strategies to smooth and shorten that road up to lead you back to pre-COVID success. 

Networking Events
Now that that we’re able to enjoy some face-to-face time…show your face!  It’s no secret that people like to do business with people they know and the best way to do that is to be out and about in the community shaking hands or bumping elbows, whichever makes you comfortable.  It won’t be long until we begin hosting our traditional indoor events again such as the State of the City, Women in Business Expo, or Seminars, but until that time, ribbon cuttings are beginning to happen and with the weather turning warmer, so are outdoor mixers. Get out there, it will be great to see friends you have missed the last year.

Community Events with Marketing Opportunities
Community events provide opportunities for smart businesspeople to prospect in the community. The be all and end all of opportunities is Business Marketplace in the Fremont Festival of the Arts, September 25th and 26th. One of the largest festivals west of the Mississippi, the Fremont Festival of the Arts provides access to a huge community audience and lends itself to demonstrations and lead collecting. Not only is the audience local, but folks from all over the Bay Area and beyond attend creating an opportunity to extend your reach outside the city limits. And for the first time ever, Business Marketplace participants will be able to sell products and services to attendees at the 2021 festival…now that’s an amazing opportunity!

Fremont Street Eats, which began July 9th, also offers an opportunity for outreach to the community and allows for you to sell products or services. It’s free for members to participate; it can’t get any more affordable than that!

Targeted Marketing Events
Our newest targeted marketing event is Dine Out in Fremont. For the entire month of September, the Fremont Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Fremont will conduct a specific and targeted restaurant promotion. Diners will be tempted by the delicious offerings of Fremont restaurants and be rewarded for their support with periodic drawings for prizes followed by a grand prize at the end of the month. Let's work together to get people back in our restaurants! More information will be released soon, so keep an eye out for how your restaurant can take advantage of this new promotional event. And, for those who love food, we can’t wait to entice you to enjoy a great meal out with the opportunity to win prizes .

Sponsorship
Sponsorship is a powerful marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. Sponsorships allow you to reach targeted niche markets and can help your business meet multiple marketing goals at once. Sponsorships are, without a doubt, among the best methods to build and enhance brand awareness, shape consumer attitude by presenting a positive image, generate leads, and differentiate yourself from competition. Savvy businesses will use sponsorship to create media awareness and use the opportunity to establish itself as a good corporate citizen and community supporter. 

Choosing the appropriate venue/event and strategically activating your sponsorship are keys to a successful sponsorship. The venue/event should engage the audience you are targeting, provide the opportunity to interact with your target audience or represent and/or support your business values and/or mission. Be sure to be fully involved in the event and take advantage of all benefits and promote that your sponsorship.

Many Chamber events are outstanding opportunities for sponsors: some offer access to business leaders, potential customers, or vendors; some offer access to community members who are potential clients; and some are designed to support and connect members with specific causes.  Sponsorship in Chamber events can prove to be an outstanding and fruitful investment in your marketing plan. We encourage you to look at the number and variety of sponsorship opportunities available and employ them in your marketing plan.

Advertising
Advertising is a staple in any marketing plan. There are many online platforms that are affordable and reach a broad audience. The Chamber has a couple of options that are targeted specifically to the Fremont community. With an average number of unique visits of 96,000 per month, the Chamber’s website, fremontbusiness.com, is a great way to reach an audience of potential customers who visit the site to specifically look for local businesses to patronize. Fremont Business Brief, the Chamber’s weekly e-newsletter offers similar benefits, a targeted audience at an extremely affordable rate.

Don’t overlook the power of print publications. Fremont Business Now, the Chamber’s printed newsletter, published semi-annually, offers advertising at an affordable rate. And, members many submit articles for publishing to educate and demonstrate their business expertise. The Chamber’s annual membership directory is a great resource for both locals and visitors.  Copies of the directory are in guest rooms of several hotels in Fremont and are mailed out to a very large mailing list.  Many people use it as a buyer’s guide when looking for products and services. Advertising is available in both these publications with special rates for members.

Don’t forget, the Ad Bank that was established to help fund advertising during COVID still has funds available. Contact us to use the Ad Bank and your next ad could run for free!

Get Involved
Volunteering in an organization provides organic networking opportunities all the while supporting a cause or organization in which you believe. Consider serving on the Chamber Board of Directors, a working committee or volunteer to work at a Chamber event or as an Ambassador.  It can be lots of fun and you’ll meet lots of great people and potential customers. And, there are many charitable non-profits that are Chamber members; let us know your interests and we’ll help you find an organization that needs your volunteer support.

Free But Pack a Huge Punch
Not all marketing tools come with a price tag. There are several benefits available to members that do not cost a thing.  

With its robust activity, the Chamber web site possesses many marketing tools. Help us to enhance your presence and profile in the web site business directory by providing us with pictures, a logo, a video, and a business description. Your potential customers will have a positive impression before they even contact you. Members can also post coupons, job postings, events and announcements on the Chamber web site.  It takes minutes to post and there is no charge. And while online, request that we help you push out your social media posts; we will be happy to share and report for you; again, it’s free.

As an expert in your field, you have important information. Show off your expertise by answering a question in a concise three-minute video. Nothing builds more confidence in a potential customer than to see you as a master in your field. And the cost?  It’s free!

Chamber membership delivers an abundance of opportunities for businesses to kick start their marketing plan and  shorten the road to recovery. Don’t use just one of these opportunities, use a few, use them all and push your business into the next level of success. 

​HERS Breast Cancer Foundation’s mission is to support all individuals healing from breast cancer by providing post-surgical products and services regardless of financial status. HERS is the only nonprofit organization in the Bay Area that provides appropriate products (such as bras, prostheses, and wigs) for breast cancer survivors, including under-served patients.

Services are available at threelocations: the flagship program store at Washington Hospital in Fremont, at Stanford Health Care ValleyCare in Pleasanton, and at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Leandro.

HERS Breast Cancer Foundation services are designed to help individuals overcome what can be devastating emotional and physical effects of surgery and treatment. The program stores provide private, understanding environments for breast cancer survivors to be properly fitted for bras and prostheses, compression garments to alleviate lymphedema, and wigs and other head covering. The service and the products HERS provide patients help to restore survivors' sense of HERS -- Hope, Empowerment, Renewal, and Support. HERS is truly “a soft place to fall” for survivors during one of the hardest times in their lives.

An active Fremont Chamber member for 19 years, the HERS Breast Cancer Foundation finds value in their ability to raise brand awareness and attract patients and stakeholders through the  benefit of membership. Through participating in the Annual State of the City, as well as other mixers and events, HERS is able to connect with like-minded professionals in the community to continue to grow and develop the organization. HERS has also found their profile on the Chamber’s website to be beneficial in helping potential clients to find and learn about their services, and uses the Chamber’s newsletters and publications to promote their organization and learn about opportunities and news in the community.


Fast Facts: HERS Breast Cancer Foundation

Location: Washington Hospital Healthcare System (at Washington West Women’s Center)
2500 Mowry Avenue, Suite 130
Fremont, CA 94538

Tina Fernandez Steckler, Executive Director
Phone: 510-790-1911
Fax: 510-505-9160

Website: hersbreastcancerfoundation.org/
Facebook: @hersbreastcancerfoundation
Twitter: @HBCF_SFBayArea
Instagram: @hers_bcfoundation
LinkedIn: hers-breast-cancer-foundation

Chamber Member since 2002

Upcoming events:
People With Purpose – A Pink Pajama Party
Saturday, May 8, 2021
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Walk/Run - HERS Breast Cancer Foundation
Saturday & Sunday, September 25 &
26, 2021

Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 2021

​Every year, when summer rolls around, there is always this huge hype about the Fremont Festival of the Arts. But why? Why are people always so excited about it? What makes it so unique in comparison to all the other festivals in the Bay Area? We sat down with Cindy Bonior, Fremont Festival Director, and Dirk Lorenz, the Fremont Festival Committee Chair, to find out. 

Question: 35 years is a long time. Can you tell us about how it all began?

DL: Years ago, after the historic Pathfinders Day parade celebrations ended, a few community leaders were looking for a replacement event that could unify the community and provide entertainment to a growing city with a diversifying population. Enter the Fremont Festival of the Arts. 

Q: How does it all come together? Who’s in charge of producing the event? 

CB: The Fremont Chamber of Commerce produces the entire event. We execute all of it from venues to attractions, but it takes the help of numerous volunteers. We have only five people on staff, so we lean on our volunteers quite a bit.

DL: We sure do. The Festival takes thousands of volunteers to pull off. No joke, thousands.

Q: So much work goes into the Festival. Exactly how much time and planning is required to make it all happen? 

CB: From the Chamber’s point of view, we work on the Festival pretty much year-round. There are peak times and quieter times. But generally, we’ll meet right after the Festival and see what could be improved on, what should be abandoned or added, and which vendors we want to reach out to or want to work with. We stay busy but to varying degrees. In the fall to early year, it’s not a huge amount of work. But after New Year’s Day, we start getting applications out and, right around May, we get super busy.

DL: From the volunteer standpoint, most of the time dedicated is in the two weeks prior to and on the actual weekend of the event. It is not unusual for core volunteers to work 48+ hours on Festival weekend.

Q: If you had to pick, what would be your favorite part of the Festival? 

CB: Can I pick two? Haha. I’ve got two, but they go hand-in-hand. 9 a.m. Saturday, when the artists are coming in, putting on the finishing touches of their art work and booths, and vendors are setting up. It’s right before the curtain goes up, so to speak, and it’s an exciting time. And my other favorite time is Sunday night, when we close and know we delivered a great event for the community. Knowing it was fun, safe, and we succeeded in accomplishing our job, I always walk away feeling great.

DL: I agree with Cindy, mine is always going home Sunday night. Haha! Actually, it’s looking at the four walking miles of “city” that literally pop up overnight. I will survey the site on Saturday morning before all heck breaks loose and see the fruits of the labor of thousands of people. It’s very rewarding.

Q: On behalf of all the foodies out there, we’ve got to ask about the food. What can we expect to find at the Festival?

CB: This is something I’m really proud of – that we were able to find and cultivate diverse food groups. Yes, we have traditional fair food like kettle corn, sliders, shaved ice, and cheese steaks. But we also have more diverse stuff like linguica, gazpacho, samosas, lumpia, Mexican food, poke bowls, skewers, porchetta, pot stickers, Mediterranean food – just a different array of cultural foods that we haven’t had in a really long time. It’s a taste of stuff you normally wouldn’t get at an outdoor festival. We’ve also got gourmet food trucks added to the mix. We’ve got something for everybody.

Q: How does the Festival of the Arts fit into the city’s art scene? Do you believe it positively impacts local artists? 

CB: Absolutely, it gives local artists an opportunity to show off their work to a large number of people. It also gives them an opportunity to show what they can do; an opportunity to get started with their business, at the very least, to test the waters to see if they have marketable art work. I was amazed the first time I saw the Festival. It shows off the diversity of Fremont, it shows off the city’s culture and community, and the community comes together to make it all happen and I think that’s really important. The level of community spirit here in Fremont is exceptional. 

DL: Speaking of community, we also have the Community Stage where local theater, dance, and music companies can showcase their talents. We try to celebrate all forms of the arts at the Festival and giving the younger generations a stage to perform on is something we’re proud to offer the community.
 
Q: Great, let’s talk about music next. What kind of entertainment can we expect to find at the Festival?

CB: We have a little bit of everything; rock-n-roll, country, jazz, zydeco, pop, etc. Since we have two days and two stages, we are able to offer a wide variety of music.

Q: And what about the little ones? Are there kid-friendly attractions at the Festival? 

CB: Definitely! We have Kid City and Kid City West, which offer a wide variety of carnival rides geared for small kids age 12 and under. We also have arts and crafts for kids, such as sand art, drawing, and a place for kids to learn bicycle safety. 

DL: Our street performers also entertain kids with things like face painting, hair braiding, and balloon animals. Several of our sponsors also offer family-friendly attractions throughout the Festival site. 

Q: The Festival is called the Fremont Festival of the Arts, but what about it screams "FREMONT”? 

CB: The Festival is not a big commercial endeavor. Actually, the Festival is about raising money for nonprofit groups. We always try to stay really true to those roots. A lot of nonprofits have dropped by the wayside, but we’ve continued the Festival’s tradition of helping them by taking a percentage of vendor payments and redirecting those funds to nonprofits. We didn’t want to stop supporting nonprofits just because they can’t participate in some of the ways they used to. Our belief is that the community is the foundation of Fremont. By empowering the community, we strengthen Fremont. Therefore, we established the Fremont Community Foundation to support nonprofits this way. Being a nonprofit ourselves, we wanted to help other nonprofits by building our Fremont Community Foundation so we can help nonprofits in a different way.

Q: Ok, so the Festival helps local non-profits, but does it also generate revenue for the city of Fremont?

CB: The city does realize tax revenue from sales tax, vendor fees, and business license fees paid by vendors. A large portion of our budget goes to the city, by paying for their services. We’ve been told by some of the hotels that the Festival helps fill hotel rooms on that weekend. A lot of the hotels are full that weekend. And the city is generous to us. They try to be helpful in showing support to all events, not just us.

DL: The city estimates that more than $1 million in tax revenue is generated from sales tax, room occupancy taxes, and local dining by those working and attending the festival. 

Q: Fremont has a very diverse community. Does the diversity of the Festival's offerings match the diversity of Fremont residents? 

DL: This has been a key strategy of the Festival Committee for years - making the Festival relevant to the area demographics. I believe our menu options throughout the Festival are reflective of our diversity. Also, the art by both the artists selling art and by the street performers reflect the diversity of Fremont, as it has been tailored to those attending. 

Q: At the end of the day, why should people come to the Fremont Festival of the Arts?

CB: The festival brings together the community. It’s a place where people in Fremont gather with friends, or meet old friends they haven’t seen in a long time, including young people and students who have a chance to socialize with friends over the summer. There’s also lots of good food, cold beer, and wine. It has all the makings of a nice afternoon. 

DL: It’s seriously FUN! It’s a safe, family event that has something for everybody.   

Missed this year's Burger & Brew Fest? No worries, here's the highlights:

The 4th Annual Fremont Burger & Brew Fest was held on May 26th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Attendance was the largest the event has ever seen, clocking in at just over 7,500.

The tasting portion of the fest featured 38 craft brews from 18 bay area breweries. And this year, the coveted People's Choice Best Brew Award went to Palmia, Lemon Infused Lager. 

"Palmia is much more than a refreshing, naturally lemon-infused beer. It is our 90 calorie love letter to good taste. Inspired by adventures on the coast of Spain, our dream was to bring a new choice to the light beer market, a lager that has superior flavor & offers a long overdue alternative to all the other watered-down beer brands. Whether you find yourself relaxing at the beach or just spending time with friends after work, Palmia wants your time & your beer to be of the highest quality."

12 food trucks dished up 39 unique burgers in every style of food from Mexican to Indian. And the 2nd Annual Burger Throwdown competition was fierce this year. The Fremont Firefighters returned as defending champions and once again took home the perpetual trophy. 

Plus, ​Burger Throwdown Sponsor, Sysco San Francisco, had a big surprise for all the competitors; they would be donating not just $250 to the winning team's charity, but $250 to ALL the competitors charities. Those charities included the Special Olympics of Northern California, Friends of Children with Special Needs, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, and Math Science Nucleus.

​New additions to the Burger & Brew Fest this year included 3 new "hangout" areas; the Arcade (with free pinball and classic arcade games), the Park (picnic tables, pink flamingos, and yard games), and the Living Room (couches!). The Fest also featured artisinal sangria for those non-beer drinkers and a FREE Designated Driver gift bag for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

As usual, the main stage was packed with music from up and coming bay area bands. This year's line up consisted of Trip Wire, The Morning Yells, and Shark Punch.

Several artists were also out selling burger and brew themed crafts along with some delicious snack vendors. Burger & Brew Fest merch was a big hit this year with the addition of our buttons series, each selling for just $1!

Planning for the 2019 fest has already begun. Dates and delicious details will be released soon.

The Fremont Chamber’s website is built to promote Chamber member businesses and give members access to features and benefits via our Member Portal. Members, here are a few tips on how you can increase your Chamber interaction!
 
Get your Credentials First!
Before you start on any of these tips, you will need your member login credentials. Here’s how: Fremont Chamber members, go to www.fremontbusiness.com, click on the “Members Only” link above the Fremont Chamber logo; click the link “Click here for personal login information”; enter your email address. Your log in credentials will be sent to your email address.
 
Not a member? Not a problem! Contact KK at (510) 795-2244, ext. 103 to learn more about becoming a member. You can also join directly on our website at fremontbusiness.com.
 
#1 - Check and Update your Contact Information and Social Media Links

1. Log in with your credentials
2. Click “Update Your Contact Information” on the right hand side in the Quick Links box
3. Click the “Edit My Profile” button
4. Click “Save and Submit”

 
Make sure all the information is correct and add or change new information.
To update or add your social media links, click the “Social Media” tab and enter the full URL (including http://) in the appropriate text field.
 
NOTE: When updating your contact information, you must fill in the “Changed by...” information.

#2 - Submit an Event

1. Log in with your credentials
2. Click on the “Submit an Event” button in the Quick Links box
3. Fill in the form
4. Click “Submit Event”

 
Your event will be queued up and approved by Fremont Chamber staff. Please do not submit events that are not hosted or sponsored by a Fremont Chamber member. If you have a community event that is Fremont focused but not hosted or sponsored by a Fremont Chamber member, you may submit it as a community event with this link: web.fremontbusiness.com/events/eventsubmission.aspx
 
NOTE: In addition to the normal vent information like time, date, location, address, please be prepared to enter an event description and a complete URL to any ticketing/registration page (e.g. your eventbright page).
 
 
#3 - Add a Coupon

1. Log in with your credentials
2. Click the “Add a Coupon” button in the Quick Links box
3. Click the “New Coupon” button and fill in the form
4. Click “SAVE”

 
NOTE: Select the blank space above “Member to Member” when choosing “Coupon Type.” If you choose member to member, your coupon will appear only to members who have logged in. Make sure you put a date for when the coupon expires.

#4 - Post a Job

1. Log in with your credentials
2. Visit the “HOME” page, Click on “Employment Opportunities” http://web.fremontbusiness.com/jobbank
3. Fill in the form
4. Click “Submit”

 
NOTE: Fill in as much information as you can. Hourly wages or salary are optional. Please include a Posting End Date.
 
#5 - Register for a Chamber Event

1. Find the event on the Fremont Chamber Calendar and visit the event page
2. Visit the event details page on the Chamber Calendar
3. Click the “Register” button on the right hand side of the page
4. Login again by clicking the blue Login button at the upper right side of the page
5. Click “Submit”

 
NOTE: You must be logged in to receive the member price. You must log in again even if you already logged in prior to visiting the event page.