New Chamber Head Enjoys Helping Local Businesses Succeed

Former business owner Clare Bongiovanni knows the ups and downs of being a successful proprietor.

Now the new Darien Chamber of Commerce president and chief operating officer is using her knowledge to help other local businesses succeed.

“I’ve been on the other side,” she said. “I completely understand what they’re dealing with.”

It was Bongiovanni’s former business, a promotional modeling staffing agency, which led her to the Darien Chamber several years ago.

Four years ago she began serving as the chamber’s part-time business outreach coordinator before taking on her role as president.

As the outreach coordinator she was able to go out and meet one-on-one with local business owners to assess their needs.

“Now that I’m president, and there’s only one person in the office, it’s a little bit harder to get out; so I make everybody come here,” she said with a laugh.

Bongiovanni, a Woodridge resident, prides herself on the relationships she has been able to form with Darien’s many businesses.

“I go out of my way to help with whatever experience and knowledge I have with marketing,” she said. “When a new member comes on board, I sit down with them, get to know them and ask them what their needs and strengths are, and get them involved with the chamber.”

Since she began with the chamber in 2007, memberships have increased from 210 to 238. But it’s more than membership that Bongiovanni is seeking. She also wants active participation.

“I encourage them to get involved,” she said. “Don’t join the chamber and just sit around and wait for something to happen because that’s not going to help you.”

Often, memberships lead to business owners taking on on a chairman or board member role.

The Darien Chamber also offers benefits to its members, including the recently implemented new software for the website called Hot Deals, a special incentives program that encourages members to offer specials on their products and services to fellow chamber members and the community.

“We’ve been encouraging everybody to take advantage of posting their hot deals to try and help bring more business back to the businesses,” Bongiovanni said.

Future initiatives chamber officials are working on include a farmer’s market in 2012 and bringing back an arts and crafts fair. Bongiovanni also hopes to help chamber members get acquainted.

“My goal by April of next year is to introduce merchants to each other and see how they can help cross-market with each other,” she said.

When it comes to her job, Bongiovanni said she doesn’t have a favorite part because “I pretty much enjoy everything."

“Sometimes when you have a hairstylist or someone running a jewelry company you’re focusing on selling or cutting hair and not thinking about the marketing part of it,” Bongiovanni said.

“I don’t mind sitting down with them and saying, ‘Why don’t you try this or this?’ I like knowing that I can help them.”