Working Together for the Betterment of All

The Blue Ridge Business Association is organized in Georgia for the purpose of promoting and supporting economic growth, tourism, area beautification and special events and activities beneficial to the businesses and people in the Greater Blue Ridge area.  The Blue Ridge Business Association is nonpartisan, nonsectarian and shall take no part in, or lend support to, the election of, or appointment of, any candidate for public office.

Any individual, business, corporation, association or estate may apply for membership in the Blue Ridge Business Association. Each individual, business, corporation, association or estate shall be listed as sustaining members and appoint one (1) voting representative.

How We Help

BRBA Hosted Festivals and Events

BRBA currently produces 4 downtown events each year which helps drive large numbers of people to the downtown business district.  We are currently actively researching producing or co-producing additional events during those months when no event is currently planned including but not limited to January, March and August.  Our goal is to have events that draw people 12 months out of the year.

Each of our events are either focused on bringing additional people to the downtown area or to give back to the community.  Events such as Blue Friday, Light Up Blue Ridge, Fire and Ice bring additional 5,000+ people to the downtown business area for each event.

Halloween Safe Zone and Old Timers’ Parade are ways in which we give back to our community by sponsoring events specifically for our local residents.

In addition from time to time we sponsor special event block parties and Community BBQ’s to encourage locals to come downtown for shopping, socializing and dining.

The BRBA supports all events in Blue Ridge whether they are produced by BRBA or by another organization.  We provide support via cash sponsorships, a BRBA tent, distributing flyers or volunteering to help the day of.  In exchange our BRBA members recieve preferred advertising sponsorships, premium booth location or special entrance rates for their employees.

BRBA Newsletter and Membership Meetings

Monthly, and sometimes more often, we distribute the BRBA electronic newsletter to our members.  It is our way to keep members informed as to what is going on downtown, with the Association and with the city.

Six to eight times a year BRBA has a general membership meeting where we discuss topics relevant to business owners.  Previous topics have included credit card processing, how to spot counterfeit money, advertising opportunities, business management, and local event planning.  Meeting topics are member driven.

The BRBA Board works hard to find advertising opportunities for members and negotiate the best possible group cost.   Previous co-op advertising has included:

  • Appalachian Country Living
  • Enjoy Cherokee
  • Blue Ridge Highlander
  • Southern Counties TV

Leverage Intra-Business Partnership Opportunities

Take advantage of working with complementary businesses for joint marketing, co-selling and lead handling.  The BRBA can help facilitate intra-business partnerships by bringing local business owners together at networking and partnering events.  For example, businesses which have similar customer base but yet are non-competing could work together on a joint advertising program to increase business to both companies.  A specific example would be a downtown food/wine business could market to cabin renters through a partnership with cabin management company.

Dedicated Web Page on the BRBA Website

All BRBA members have their own webpage on the BRBA website.  Members are allowed to include any information and pictures they would like to share with the public.  We encourage you to include your logo, tag line, your unique selling proposition, description of your products or services, customer focused business goals as well as a concise statement that embodies the value your business has to offer their customers.  We encourage you to offer a discount or coupon on your page and we allow members to change the discount or coupon as often as you want.

Festivals

BRBA Hosted Festivals and Events

BRBA currently produces 4 downtown events each year which helps drive large numbers of people to the downtown business district.  We are currently actively researching producing or co-producing additional events during those months when no event is currently planned including but not limited to January, March and August.  Our goal is to have events that draw people 12 months out of the year.

Each of our events are either focused on bringing additional people to the downtown area or to give back to the community.  Events such as Blue Friday, Light Up Blue Ridge, Fire and Ice bring additional 5,000+ people to the downtown business area for each event.

Halloween Safe Zone and Old Timers’ Parade are ways in which we give back to our community by sponsoring events specifically for our local residents.

In addition from time to time we sponsor special event block parties and Community BBQ’s to encourage locals to come downtown for shopping, socializing and dining.

The BRBA supports all events in Blue Ridge whether they are produced by BRBA or by another organization.  We provide support via cash sponsorships, a BRBA tent, distributing flyers or volunteering to help the day of.  In exchange our BRBA members recieve preferred advertising sponsorships, premium booth location or special entrance rates for their employees.

Communication

BRBA Newsletter and Membership Meetings

Monthly, and sometimes more often, we distribute the BRBA electronic newsletter to our members.  It is our way to keep members informed as to what is going on downtown, with the Association and with the city.

Six to eight times a year BRBA has a general membership meeting where we discuss topics relevant to business owners.  Previous topics have included credit card processing, how to spot counterfeit money, advertising opportunities, business management, and local event planning.  Meeting topics are member driven.

Co-op Marketing

The BRBA Board works hard to find advertising opportunities for members and negotiate the best possible group cost.   Previous co-op advertising has included:

  • Appalachian Country Living
  • Enjoy Cherokee
  • Blue Ridge Highlander
  • Southern Counties TV
Partnerships

Leverage Intra-Business Partnership Opportunities

Take advantage of working with complementary businesses for joint marketing, co-selling and lead handling.  The BRBA can help facilitate intra-business partnerships by bringing local business owners together at networking and partnering events.  For example, businesses which have similar customer base but yet are non-competing could work together on a joint advertising program to increase business to both companies.  A specific example would be a downtown food/wine business could market to cabin renters through a partnership with cabin management company.

Web Page

Dedicated Web Page on the BRBA Website

All BRBA members have their own webpage on the BRBA website.  Members are allowed to include any information and pictures they would like to share with the public.  We encourage you to include your logo, tag line, your unique selling proposition, description of your products or services, customer focused business goals as well as a concise statement that embodies the value your business has to offer their customers.  We encourage you to offer a discount or coupon on your page and we allow members to change the discount or coupon as often as you want.

Benefits of Collective Bargaining Power

  • BRBA advertises on behalf of our organization in several key publications
  • We  highlight various BRBA members and their businesses
  • We advertise all events and festivals

Ability to gain discounts, special deals or volume pricing by combining buying power of BRBA membership.  Examples include:

  • Insurance
  • Printing
  • Signage
  • Advertising
  • Merchant Services
  • BlueRidge.Live

BRBA maintains Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram pages and posts regularly.  We use these social media platforms to target market the demographics important to our members.

BRBA reaches a Large Tourist and Shopper Base through our annual Shopper Guide.  We print 30,000 to 35,000 guides each year listing all BRBA members and allow members to purchase advertising space in the guide if they would like to.

The Walking Map is available at:

  • Train Depot
  • All Welcome Centers coming into Georgia
  • All Chamber of Commerce locations
  • Restaurants and Cabin Rental offices
  • Local Businesses in and around town
Advertising
  • BRBA advertises on behalf of our organization in several key publications
  • We  highlight various BRBA members and their businesses
  • We advertise all events and festivals
Pricing

Ability to gain discounts, special deals or volume pricing by combining buying power of BRBA membership.  Examples include:

  • Insurance
  • Printing
  • Signage
  • Advertising
  • Merchant Services
  • BlueRidge.Live
Social Media

BRBA maintains Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram pages and posts regularly.  We use these social media platforms to target market the demographics important to our members.

Walking Map

BRBA reaches a Large Tourist and Shopper Base through our annual Shopper Guide.  We print 30,000 to 35,000 guides each year listing all BRBA members and allow members to purchase advertising space in the guide if they would like to.

The Walking Map is available at:

  • Train Depot
  • All Welcome Centers coming into Georgia
  • All Chamber of Commerce locations
  • Restaurants and Cabin Rental offices
  • Local Businesses in and around town