Bob Hendrickson

The GINCC has a Community Partnership agreement with the Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula to help facilitate services of the BBB to businesses in Western Marquette County.

This partnership offers the credibility and resources affiliated with the Better Business Bureau to our membership and other businesses who choose to become an accredited business with the BBB. There is an annual fee paid to the BBB with obtaining and keeping accreditation.

Like a chamber of commerce, the Better Business Bureau is a private non-profit entity with bureaus serving different regions.

The vision of the BBB is to have an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers trust each other. They accomplish this by setting standards for marketplace trust, encourage and support best practices by engaging and educating consumers and businesses, celebrate marketplace role models, calling out and addressing substandard marketplace behavior along with creating a community of trustworthy businesses and charities.

So, what are the benefits of becoming an accredited business? Listing on the BBB.org website to add greater exposure, enhanced credibility, customer service training, access to marketing tools and programs.

Although there has been some criticism regarding the rating system the BBB uses to accredit businesses, the GINCC feels the legitimacy of the BBB gives a fairer assessment of a business’s credibility compared to reviews on Google or Facebook which are not vetted or offer dispute resolution.

Interested in learning more about the Better Business Bureau or already a member and would like to learn more how to take advantage of your membership?

Go to www.bbb.org or contact the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Michigan at 866-788- 5706.

To learn more about the GINCC, visit www.gincc.org or give us a call 906-486-1111.

Our hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday and the office is located at 910 U.S. 41 West in front Jubilee Foods & Fuel. Please call ahead as we are out of office from time to time.

EDITORS NOTE: Bob Hendrickson is the executive director of the GINCC. He resides in Negaunee with his wife, Laura, where they raised their daughter, Sierra. He enjoys mountain biking, skiing, fishing and hunting along with family time.