• What is the National Chamber Program?
• How do chambers earn non-dues revenue from the National Chamber Program?
• What is the National Commerce Group?
• What is a Group Purchasing Organization (G.P.O.)?
• How do group purchasing organizations benefit members?
• What is the cost to participate in the National Chamber Program?
• If the National Chamber Program doesn't charge a fee, how does it make money?
• Do the suppliers charge more by going through the National Chamber Program instead of directly through them?
• Is there an advantage to using the National Chamber Program if our chamber already has an existing program?

What is the National Chamber Program?

The National Chamber Program was built out of the success of the Office Depot program with the Detroit Regional Chamber. Today, the National Chamber Program provides affinity programs for more than 500 chambers across the country.

Through its contracting entity, the National Commerce Group, the National Chamber Program is able to leverage the collective buying power of over 100,000 members from across the country to drive greater discounts on a variety of products and services. The program also provides non-dues revenue opportunities for chambers and a full suite of marketing and administrative support services to make the programs succeed.

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How do chambers earn non-dues revenue from the National Chamber Program?

The National Chamber Program retains a portion of the product and service discounts to return to the chambers as non-dues revenue. In some instances, the National Chamber Program also negotiates with vendors to provide membership and other investments in community organizations. Rebates and revenue opportunities can vary by product type, level of involvement from the chamber and overall customer volume.

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What is the National Commerce Group?

The National Commerce Group is the supply contracting company for the National Chamber Program. It operates as one of the largest group purchasing organizations (GPO) in the country tapping industry expertise to provide contract negotiation, vendor management, and program analysis. National Chamber Program customers benefit from the power of the National Commerce Group and receive industry leading pricing on the broadest portfolio of products and services available. Members derive additional savings through National Commerce Group's spend management services and continuous program refinements.

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What is a Group Purchasing Organization (G.P.O.)?

A group purchasing organization (GPO) is an entity that helps organizations in various markets realize savings and efficiencies by aggregating purchasing volume and using that leverage to negotiate discounts with suppliers, distributors and other vendors. The National Chamber Program leverages the National Commerce Group which is one of the nation's largest group purchasing solutions.

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How do group purchasing organizations benefit members?

Because GPOs represent many customers, they are able to offer economies of scale to the members that they serve. By aggregating the purchasing power of many organizations, GPOs help balance the negotiating equation between purchasers and vendors.

GPOs produce substantial savings by removing costs from across sales and supply chains, not by simply contracting for the cheapest products. GPO customers receive financial benefits through up-front pricing discounts, patronage dividends and distributions, and reduced administrative costs.

In addition, GPOs provide valuable cost-avoidance savings to organizations by helping them standardize and streamline their purchasing, as well as reduce the number of staff that facilities must employ to negotiate purchasing contracts.

The National Chamber Program takes the GPO product savings and incorporates them into affinity programs for chambers. These programs include enhancements to make them more applicable to the small to medium sized business that form the back bone of most chamber memberships.

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What is the cost to participate in the National Chamber Program?

Unlike other group purchasing organizations, there is no charge for chambers or their members to participate in the program. Customers can access to the National Chamber Program through membership in their local chamber of commerce. Chambers can begin offering this valuable member benefit today by completing the sign-up form or contacting (313) 596-0452.

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If the National Chamber Program doesn't charge a fee, how does it make money?

The National Commerce Group manages the National Chamber Program and relies on fees paid by vendors to finance the services it provides to the customers. These contract administrative fees are generally based upon the purchase price that the customer pays for a product purchased through its GPO contract. National Commerce Group also contracts with suppliers to provide technology solutions to streamline their marketing and enrollment processes. There is no cost to join the National Chamber Program and membership participation is completely voluntary.

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Do the suppliers charge more by going through the National Chamber Program instead of directly through them?

Absolutely not - suppliers actually charge less than if customers go direct to the supplier. Since the National Chamber Program is able to leverage the purchasing power of over 100,000 customers, suppliers see value in partnering with us to offer our customers a lower price. In addition, the National Chamber Program and its supply contracting company the National Commerce Group are taking aggressive measures to help customers reduce overall supply expenses and ensure that the value received from contracts remains best-in-class.

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Is there an advantage to using the National Chamber Program if our chamber already has an existing program?

Yes, absolutely! Size is the biggest driver in product programs and the National Chamber Program is larger than any other chamber program. That means your members will be able to access better pricing and more favorable contract terms. It also means your organization could generate more revenue on your existing program! But the National Chamber Program does more than aggregate spend; it also provides additional services that help lower costs for your members and marketing and administrative support to ensure the success of your program. Scale, sophistication and expertise are our differentiators!

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