The recession had barely begun when Tess Richardson opened an acupuncture and massage business in Oro Valley. And at first, she was adamant that she shouldn't have to drop her $100-per-treatment price during hard times.
"I know the value is there in what I offer. But I learned that I had to change my way of doing things," said Richardson, 61, who opened Come Alive Health LLC in 2008 at 8339 N. Oracle Road.
She now offers package deals with treatments as low as $35 per half-hour. Her epiphany on pricing came as a result of her membership in the Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce, she says.
By seeking advice from other chamber members, "I learned there are things you have to do when the economy is hurting."
The chamber itself has been hit by the harsh economy, says President Ramon Gaanderse.
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After a decade-long growth surge - the chamber's roster has grown from 250 firms to more than 500 since the late 1990s - membership now is flat.
And some members are having trouble paying their annual dues, which run from about $200 to more than $1,000 depending on business size.
"When business struggles, the chamber struggles," Gaanderse said.
"We're holding our own right now, but cash flow is an issue because people are paying later than they should be."
The Northern Pima County Chamber started out in 1992 as the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce and changed its name and focus to a more regional approach in the late 1990s.
Today, about half the chamber's members are from Oro Valley. The rest are spread out across Marana, unincorporated Pima County and elsewhere.
To help members weather the storm, the chamber has amped up offerings of seminars, luncheons and meet-and-greet events. Recent forums have included topics such as time management, networking, cold calling and how to get referrals.
"We want our members to feel that they are getting their money's worth," Gaanderse says.
Richardson has no complaints.
The chamber "is full of generous, enthusiastic people," she says. "They help me feel successful."
This story also ran in Thursday's Northwest section.
Contact reporter Carol Ann Alaimo at calaimo@azstarnet.com or at 573-4138.
Find out more
For information about the Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce, go to www.the-chamber.com or call 297-2191.