Although many chambers are avid supporters of shop local movements, and most community members support the benefits of doing so, shop local programs occasionally come under fire. Proponents of shop local suggest that all economies are local with the Internet and that chains and big box stores still employ local Read more…
On this blog we love featuring a good shop local campaign, and there’s a fun one going on in the month of July that we just had to mention. Cities across the country like Raleigh, Clinton, Alexandria (MN), Bainbridge Island, and Lincoln are participating in this effort to get people to Read more…
If you’re running a shop local campaign without a blog you’re missing an opportunity to reach more people. Here are a number of other benefits blogging can do for your buy local program. Isn’t it time you start one? What a Blog Can Do Good blogs generally improve SEO and Read more…
If you’re starting a shop local campaign, or just want to increase the attention yours is getting, there are a few people you’ll want to bring on board. Here’s who they are and why you need them. Key Stakeholders for Your Shop Local Campaign Your chamber of commerce or your Read more…
If you own a local business, or you advise local businesses, you may wonder what the average customer wants and how to make the business more profitable. After all, there’s a lot of competition locally from the big box stores as well as online. How Your Business Can Attract More Read more…
Chambers and business associations have shared so many fun ideas with us on how they’re using their chamber bucks or gift certificates as awards within their community. These prizes are enticing people to shop local and they’re all so fun we just had to share them. We hope you enjoy them Read more…
No, the title to this blog post isn’t a typo. It’s a new way of viewing your local shops. Often we talk about “shopping local” or buying from “small business” but your town’s merchants aren’t all small and some franchise owners are every bit a part of the local scene Read more…
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…
