Dads may not always be big shoppers but most of them probably appreciate working hard and showing pride in their hometown. It’s expected that 16.9% of spending this Father’s Day will be in local small businesses. What do you say we try to get that number up? Ideas for a Read more
Austin and Portland lay claim to the slogan of keeping it weird. Every town, no matter what the size has a personality and a claim to fame. You might be the Garlic Capital of the World or the “City of Paved Streets” but one of the things that makes your Read more
Shop local programs sometimes draw fire. Franchise owners and box stores feel left out when a chamber or downtown association launches an aggressive shop local campaign. But they don’t have to be. You can include them in your shop local efforts through instituting a local currency or gift certificate program. Read more
If you’re considering a gift certificate or currency program for your town you’ll probably be focused on how it’s a great source of non-dues revenue for your chamber or shop local association. But a local currency program also brings some great benefits to your merchants. Here’s what businesses love about Read more
A local currency program allows people to buy gift certificates that can be used in a number of local businesses. However, if you don’t choose the right system you could end up with a lot of administrative headache. You need automation in your chamber bucks program. Here’s why: Create 24/7 Read more
Farmer’s markets are the original shop local movement. Many farmer’s markets now offer everything from crafts and artwork to artisan cheese. The stalls are a colorful explosion of nature’s goodness alongside neighbors’ home goods. These markets are the ideal way to support your community. In addition to keeping more of your Read more
If you’re planning a shop local holiday extravaganza this November, you need to start planning it now. Assuming you’ve read yesterday’s summer edition of your shop local program to-do list, let’s move onto what will keep you busy this fall. September: Produce Collateral Create marketing collateral to tell your town Read more
We’re nearly half-way through the year and now that the weather is finally starting to get warmer, it’s difficult to believe the holiday season will be here before we know it, but it will. If you’re planning on hosting a Small Business Saturday or shop local holiday kick-off campaign right Read more
If you have a local savings or punch card to incentivize people to shop local in your town, you know how great they are. If you don’t have a local savings card but are thinking about one, there are a number of different types. Selecting the right one for your Read more
Moms rarely get to be the center of attention. They likely are always doing for someone else in the family or community. Mother’s Day is this Sunday and a shop local gift certificate is a great way to show her how much you appreciate her. Here’s why moms love them: Read more
