Santa Cruz Retail Businesses

Since its founding, the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce has been dedicated to promoting the economic vitality and prosperity of Santa Cruz retail businesses.The Santa Cruz Chamber provides opportunities to help stores, restaurants, and other retail businesses survive and thrive in a retail environment that must adapt to great changes in consumer attitudes and expectations.

Workshops, briefings, and expertise through the Chamber

The Santa Cruz Chamber provides many opportunities for retailers to learn from local and national experts through presentations, briefings, and hands-on workshops. These events are designed to showcase ways for retail businesses, restaurants, and other small businesses to increase the sales, adapt to new consumer buying behaviors, and implement management and merchandising tips to improve the bottom-line. 

The Chamber helps member businesses keep abreast of current trends in property management and community planning, changes in consumer behavior and purchasing power, and success stories in downtown and neighborhood retail development through its ongoing commitment to the retail sector. The Chamber spearheads initiatives to improve Santa Cruz County’s retail planning and performance, and the Chamber works with local retailers, property owners and their agents, lenders and investors, and local government to improve the retail environment in the Santa Cruz area.

The Santa Cruz Chamber has worked with retail consultant, Bob Gibbs, to work with local merchants about national trends in retail and conduct a workshop for retailers. You can read about his visit and recommendations to Santa Cruz retailers on the Sentinel website.

Search-engine optimized online business directory

The Chamber’s website connects retail businesses with those working in, living in, and visiting Santa Cruz. The website has an online business directory that's available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Chamber site received more than 100,000 visitors in 2009.

In addition to he Visiting Santa Cruz section on the Chamber website, which includes direct links to listings in the online business directory for dining and shopping, Chamber members automatically receive a free listing in the online business directory, including a photo and 100-word description, a link to your website, a map to your location, and any coupons you'd like to add to promote your business.

If you don't have a website of your own, your listing on the Santa Cruz Chamber website exposes your business to anyone searching online for Santa Cruz retail businesses and restaurants. And, if you do have a website, a link from the Santa Cruz Chamber's directory can bring you even more business.

Marketing and networking opportunities

The Chamber provides mixers, luncheons, and networking opportunities for retail businesses. Businesses are encouraged to show off their stores and restaurants at a Chamber mixer, learn about retail marketing at our workshops, and list their businesses on the Chamber website. The contacts you make at Chamber events can become some of your best customers. See the Chamber calendar for a list of upcoming events.

For more information about growing your retail business, please contact membership@santacruzchamber.org or call the Chamber at 831-457-3713. To join the chamber, please complete an Online Membership Application or download and fax or mail the Santa Cruz Chamber Membership Application.

Look for the Chamber decal

For more than 120 years, Santa Cruz Chamber members have been committed to improving our community for everyone who visits, works, or lives in Santa Cruz County. For a list of local Santa Cruz Chamber member shops, boutiques, and stores, visit the Shopping section of the Chamber business directory.