In today’s economic state your membership is more important than ever! To enjoy the fruits of our harvest tomorrow, we must sow the seeds of prosperity by investing in our business community today. Did you know that membership in the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce can significantly boost your business’ image among consumers. In a scientific survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta-based strategic consulting firm, found positive perceptions of chamber members in a number of areas, including overall favorability, consumer awareness and reputation, and likelihood of future patronage. The study showed that when respondents were told that a particular business was a member of a chamber, they were 44% more likely to rate it favorably than study respondents who were not told of the chamber affiliation. Respondents are also 63% more likely to purchase goods or services from a small business that is a chamber member.