A better business bureau

Organization aims to 'reintroduce' itself

Organization aims to 'reintroduce' itself

The Better Business Bureau serving the Midlands and Charleston areas profiles thousands of businesses and handles some 3,800 consumer complaints each year.

Jim Camp

Despite those numbers, BBB officials say there are plenty of people who aren't aware of the nonprofit group's products and services. So the consumer advocacy organization is making a push to "reintroduce" itself to the public and the business community and improve its offerings.

Leading the charge is the group's new president and chief executive officer, Jim Camp, a former banker who joined the regional BBB in mid-August.

"We're trying to modernize ourselves and use the horsepower of the national organization to be more relevant to our communities," Camp said during a visit to Charleston Friday.

Camp's appointment comes when the group's national umbrella organization, the Council of Better Business Bureaus, is launching a $700,000 rebranding and public outreach campaign.

He joins the BBB's Columbia office as it wraps up a turbulent year that included a power struggle among board members that led to a lawsuit and the resignation of its former chief executive, Eric Davis, according to reports.

Those issues have been resolved and morale is high, Camp said.

"I'm impressed by the dedication of the employees and the board," he said.

The group's biggest challenge going forward, he said, is its small staff and its limited annual budget of about $300,000. With a staff of five, the BBB serves 15 counties from Newberry to Charleston, offering services such as mediating consumer disputes with businesses and compiling profiles of businesses throughout its territory. A volunteer board of directors oversees the organization.

Part of Camp's mission involves trying to beef up the group's business membership, which now numbers about 1,000. Receiving accreditation by the BBB is like getting the "Good Housekeeping seal of approval," he said.

"Identification as a member indicates intentions of integrity and trust," he said.

Camp joined the bureau after a 32-year career with AgFirst Farm Credit Bank in Columbia, where he recently retired as vice president and chief operations officer. AgFirst serves farmers, farm-related businesses and rural homeowners.

He said he inquired about the BBB's vacant leadership position after learning about the group's troubles.

"I'm enthusiastic about the cause and value (of the BBB organization)," he said, adding that the job lined up well with his business background.

BBB supporters say they're excited to have Camp on board.

"He brings a wealth of real-world business experience to our organization," BBB Chairman Jerry Fowler said in a statement. "His years in banking and deep roots in the community will help take us to the next level."

On a national scale, the 95-year-old BBB is making changes to compete better online with consumer-oriented Web sites such as Angie's list, Craigslist and Smartpockets.com.

"While our current consumer use is impressive, we aren't reaching as far and deep as we want to, and don't want consumers to lose out on what we have to offer," Steve Cole, president and chief executive of the national BBB, said in a statement.

Some of the improvements, on a local and national level, are aimed at making it easier to find a company's report, file a complaint or get consumer alerts and warnings online. The Web sites also will include monthly lists of companies that have lost their BBB accreditation and the reasons why.

In 2006, the BBB handled a record 1.2 million complaints from consumers.

McClatchy Newspapers contributed to this report.Reach Caroline Fossi at cfossi@postandcourier.com or 937-5524.