Gift cards are extremely convenient but they’re not all the same. That’s obvious. There are gift cards for specific stores, restaurant gift cards, credit card gift cards that can be used anywhere, and gift cards to specific services that can be used at several locations nationwide. There’s also our personal favorite Read more…
This Sunday kicks off National Small Business Week, an event of the US Small Business Administration. It’s held in order to bring attention and revenue to small businesses that make up the backbone of our communities through job creation and profitability. But it also encourages entrepreneurialism with its hashtag #DreamSmallBiz. If Read more…
If you have a shop local program, or are thinking of starting one, you’ll quickly realize that marketing is one of the most important things you can do to ensure success. It’s also important that you employ all types of marketing including digital marketing, content marketing, event marketing, direct mail, Read more…
We’ve talked about impediments to shop local and Main Street programs before. You can create a fabulous shop local campaign and local currency program, but if your community isn’t positioned for growth, you’ll be swimming upstream against hurricane tides. Does Your Community Have…. Ample parking. Visitors won’t come if Read more…
Dear Small Business Owner: Thank you. Thank you for being part of what gives our town the flavor it has. Thank you for giving people a reason (outside of family) to come visit. Thank you for making sure the kids have a sponsor for their sports teams because it helps Read more…
Online ordering has become a multi-billion dollar industry in the US and is growing at a rate of about 10% each year. About 80% of Internet users have purchased something online. This isn’t a fad. As digital natives age, we’ll see these numbers continue to grow. If you’re a mom Read more…
Part of the success in a shop local program is in the marketing. Shop local campaigns that spotlight the unique offerings of their local shops through social media and other avenues are more likely to inspire action than those that merely tell people to “buy local.” The “Why” Is a Read more…
Shop local programs are really hot right now and it’s a great way to bring prosperity to your community. However, even though your intentions are good, there are a lot of stumbling blocks you can face along the way. These obstacles can make your shop local program less successful than Read more…
The one consistent reason people cite as why they don’t shop local is price. They say they can’t afford to pay more for items they need on a daily basis. But shopping local isn’t more expensive if you take into account the following aspects: Loss Leaders Big box stores run Read more…
Do you have a shop local program or campaign? What about local currency? If you have one, you should have the other. They go together like the Kardashians and bad jokes, or peas and carrots (if you’d prefer). Here’s why you need to make a local currency program part of your Read more…
