Using Your Membership – Why Ribbon Cuttings Matter

Ribbon cuttings are one of the easiest — and most meaningful — ways to put your Chamber membership to use.

At their heart, ribbon cuttings are about showing up for fellow members. They celebrate milestones such as new memberships, grand openings, expansions, relocations, anniversaries and new ownership. For the business being recognized, it’s a proud moment—and seeing other Chamber members take time out of their day to support that moment truly matters.

For attendees, ribbon cuttings offer a simple way to stay connected to Sioux Falls’ business community. You get a firsthand look at new and growing businesses, learn about products and services you may not have known existed and gain insight into industries beyond your own. They’re also a natural way to recognize familiar faces, meet other members who are actively engaged, and grow your network of like-minded individuals who are invested in our business community.

Ribbon cuttings are sometimes described as “mini networking events,” but it’s important to set the right expectations.

They are not mixers. You won’t be expected to stay for hours, make formal introductions or be treated to lavish food and beverages. In fact, most ribbon cuttings are intentionally brief. The ceremony itself typically lasts about 20 minutes and includes a short welcome, remarks from the business owner and a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

What is expected — and deeply appreciated — is your presence.

Even stopping by for a short time makes a difference. Many businesses plan their ribbon cutting carefully, inviting staff, partners, family and customers to celebrate alongside them. When fellow Chamber members attend, it reinforces that they are part of a supportive, connected business community.

Ribbon cuttings also strengthen the Chamber network as a whole. Consistent attendance helps build relationships, visibility and goodwill across industries — whether the business is brand new or marking a major growth milestone.

Finding ribbon cutting events to attend is easy. A list of upcoming ribbon cuttings for the next two weeks is included in Quickly, the Chamber’s weekly e-newsletter delivered every Thursday. All ribbon cuttings and events are also listed on the Chamber’s online event calendar at siouxfallschamber.com.

If you’re looking for a low-pressure, high-impact way to use your membership, start with ribbon cuttings. They’re brief, welcoming and meaningful — and they show what it truly means to support the Sioux Falls business community.

For information on how to hold your own ribbon cutting, contact Parker Rieffenberger at prieffenberger@siouxfalls.com.