Meet Kesti Aysseh, Executive Director of the Darien Chamber of Commerce. A mother of three, she moved to town in 1999 to raise her family here. Kesti talked to us about local holiday shopping and how customers can enter to win a $250 gift certificate through the #darientogether initiative. Discover the latest news and learn about Darien’s first-ever Town Party, slated for October 2022!
How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
Three kids: Emily is almost 21 at Denison; Dillan, 18, is a freshman at U of Denver and Tommy, 14, is in 8th grade at MMS. And we have an 8-year-old golden retriever, Tanner.
When did you move to town and what led you to Darien?
We bought our first house in Darien in 1999. I met my husband in college and he is from New Canaan. After living in Boston, we wanted to settle in this area and looked for homes in both New Canaan and Darien and landed in Darien.
What are your favorite activities to do in town?
I love to use the outdoor space here taking full advantage of the parks and beaches. We have so many wonderful amenities at our fingertips; boating, tennis, skating, paddle, gardening, arts and more. I helped plan the Darien Fourth of July Fireworks for several years and that event is always a highlight of my summer. I enjoy going to the live concert series that took place at Grove Street Plaza and now at Tilley Pond, something that we can do as a family, then walk over to a local restaurant after. And shopping, what girl doesn’t love to shop?! Darien has so many wonderful locally owned stores. Barrett Bookstore and The Darien Cheese Shop in Goodwives are top of my list! I really enjoy spending time in this beautiful community with the amazing friends I have made. It really is all about the relationships we have cultivated over the years that keep me grounded and the happiest… whether it’s my best girlfriend, or the local shop keeper who knows me by name, having that sense of community has helped me feel the most connected to Darien and all it has to offer.
Tell us about your role as Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce…
I came on board in July 2021. My first job out of college was at the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce (MA) and never in a million years did I think I would end up being ED at another Chamber 27 years later. It’s a great fit for me as I deeply care about Darien and have gained experience from volunteering for so many local organizations, Town of Darien Firefighters’ Foundation, The Darien Foundation, Tiny Miracles, OPUS and my most recent gig, Development Director at The Depot Youth Center.
My goal is to educate the town all the Chamber has to offer, not only our businesses but all those who live here too. For example, our member directory. This is an indispensable resource that all Darien residents should be using when they need a service. We offer a reliable, neighborhood-friendly list of all types of businesses (real estate agents, lawyers, architects, insurance, hair salons, garage door fitters, etc.) No need to search google when we have a trusted, local resource on our website, and it will be featured on our community app launching in a few months. How many times do you see on your Facebook page, “Anyone know a good electrician?” Visit our member directory for the answer! Also, we host the town community calendar. The calendar is a one-stop-source for everyone to know what is going on in town; when/where are the events, benefits, concerts, sales, programs, etc., taking place.
Also, as I mentioned our community app is launching soon and will feature a EAT, SHOP, PLAY type of platform with the calendar, directory, job postings and Darien Dollars. Darien Dollars will be the new version of our town wide gift certificate program. This new e-gift card program will also help promote shopping local. You can put “dollars” on your child’s app and they can redeem while in town with friends shopping or eating. We are really excited about this feature as it will further encourage people to shop local and boost our economy. Until we launch digitally, the town wide gift certificates are for sale at DR Bank in Darien.
I also allocate part of my time to The Darien Chamber Charitable Foundation. The work of the Chamber is mainly financed by the investments of its members. The Darien Chamber Charitable Foundation is funded by our community. The DCCF is the Chamber’s fundraising arm, a separate 501(c)3 set up to support and facilitate programs that enrich the quality of life in Darien. DCCF’s major initiatives include The Darien Chamber College Scholarship Program, where scholarships are awarded to 4 deserving Darien High School students and 2 high school graduates of Chamber Members, annually. And The Darien Chamber Holiday Lights Program, which enables us to decorate Darien’s lamp posts during the holiday season… a beautification effort bestowed upon our community and provided by the Chamber for over 15 years. Our annual appeal is on-going right now and can be found on our website.
Best part about your job?
It goes without saying, getting to know all the local merchants and business owners in town is the best part of my job. Our Board of Directors alone represents a diverse cross section of businesses here. Helping to improve the town you live in and make it the best it can be is very rewarding.
What surprises people most when they come to shop or dine in Darien for the first time?
I think that a large percent of store and restaurant owners are local and live locally and are truly connected to our town and care about its vitality. Darien Sport Shop has been a family run business for 75 years and is always thinking about what is best for our community, same with Palmer’s, a family run business located in in Darien for 100 years. That really says something! Our stores offer top quality products and personalized service and sell items you would find in the nicer NYC department stores. The restaurants also offer food on par with NYC choices. These store owners support our local charities and sponsor our community events. This translates into a real sense of belonging and community for all of us. 56% of consumers say they shop locally because of the benefit to the local economy. It helps keep dollars in the town they live in. Not to sound cliché, but here, everyone knows your name.
Shopping local is important to many Darien residents. Can you explain the #DarienTogether initiative?
#darientogether is the brain child of David Genovese and Lisa Elwell of The Corbin District and Cheryl Williams, Darien Chamber Board Chair, to promote shopping local during the 2020 holiday season. The stores were really hurting because of COVID and we needed a way to get people into the stores, shop and share their experience to promote #shoplocal. The campaign proved successful by bringing foot traffic and recognition to the stores as well as residents being a direct beneficiary of gift card funds donated by The Corbin District and The Darien Chamber’s generous sponsors (made up of 18 local stores owners and businesses). 2021 continues to be a difficult time for our local businesses and it is vital we support our local shops. We have so many amazing businesses here in Darien, as I mentioned, many of which are locally owned and operated. Up until December 24th, we draw 6 winners every Friday to receive a $250 gift certificate that can be redeemed in our local shops and establishments. Entering is easy, snap a photo or a selfie in a local shop, then post it on Instagram and tag the store, @thecorbindistrict, @darienctchamber and #darientogether. You must follow @thecorbindistrict and @darienctchamber to participate and to be notified if you are a winner. On 12/24, all participants will be placed in a season-ending drawing to win a one night stay at The William Vale Hotel, Brooklyn, NY, the Marram in Montauk, or The Taconic Hotel in Manchester, VT.
Are there any special events coming up?
What is exciting is the planning that has kicked off for the Darien Town Party. If you would like to help, please email me: [email protected]! The party is scheduled for October 8, 2022, and there will be live music with The Spadtastics, many local food vendors and more! We are also excited to host Monica McNally at our annual State of Darien breakfast in January. Because of the recent uptick in COVID cases our in-person events are TBD right now, but our website will have all the latest details and dates with appropriate zoom links if needed. I also mentioned we are launching our community app in March and will hold an event to celebrate. For members, he best way to spread the word about your business is by making connections so we aim to hold monthly Business After Hours member events which recently have been heavily attended (they and come with your membership, so they are free to attend). This is a great way to network and meet people… and are really fun!
Do you have some shopping tips or gift ideas for people buying holiday presents in town?
Two great gift ideas come to mind: Bill Jensen at The Darien Toy Box has created and will be selling in his store the board game, Darienopoly. Local merchants, businesses and sponsors have purchased “real estate” on the board which makes the game special and unique to Darien… a keepsake all residents will want to own. A portion of the sales benefit The Darien Chamber Charitable Foundation and The Depot Youth Center. Please pop into the Toy Box and check it out.
Also, our Town Wide Gift Certificates are great gifts for friends, kids, teachers, coaches, employees and more. They are for sale at DR Bank (cash only) and can be redeemed at 90 places in Darien. Our website has a list of the stores and establishments that participate in this shop local program. Personally, I love gifts that last all year long, fitness class packs, gym memberships, Sipstir’s Wine of the Month Club, monthly flower delivery… a gift to a local charity in a loved one’s name. And anything from David Harvey is welcome under my Christmas Tree!!
Anything to add?
Many ask me, what is a chamber of commerce? Originally a Chamber’s purpose was to gather merchants, industrialists, traders, and craftsmen to discuss and tackle community challenges. The chamber of commerce was a place of unity, even among competitors. I read on another Chamber’s website, “Local chambers tackle both issues and trends taking place in their community as well as offer resources and services to help local businesses succeed. It isn’t just a goodwill effort, but an effective strategy. Every chamber is unique, with different benefits, resources, and opportunities to serve as an influential voice that stands for the wellbeing of the local business environment. This includes helping to promote local businesses and improve their growth.” I want to unite the business and resident communities. We have a great start with our monthly e-newsletters, social media posts, and collaborative events and communications that offer updates on various news and issues that are happening, as well as spotlight featured or new businesses. With all on the horizon for Darien, we will be a busy Chamber and the premiere resource for Darien! You can subscribe at www.darienctchamber.com and follow us @darienctchamber.
I am so excited to bring the Chamber to the forefront all who live and work in Darien, we are committed to taking a leadership role in promoting the business community and quality of life. For those considering joining they should consider these statistics from American Business Magazine:
- 44% of consumers are more likely to think favorably of businesses who are members of their local chamber.
- 63% of consumers are more likely to buy products or services from businesses who are members of their local chamber.
- Consumers view chamber of commerce members as trustworthy and are 12% more likely to believe their products or services are better than competitors.