It’s that time of year again. Kids are off to school and many parents have lists the length of their arms to get taken care of. If you’re a merchant or a chamber of commerce, it’s time to let them know how shopping local can benefit them. Shopping Local is Read more…
The first full week of August is National Farmer’s Market Week, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, so get out there and celebrate by going to your local market. If you do, you can: Try a New Veggie in a New Way One of the benefits to a Read more…
The look of business is changing for chambers. No longer is everything brick-and-mortar on Main Street. Your members may still be, but if they’re the only ones in your community you’re reaching out to, you’re missing a large chunk of businesses. There are 53 million people in the United States Read more…
Local businesses have great stories and that makes them ideal material for your blog. If you’re looking for topics for your blog, new ways to showcase your chamber members, and ways to increase your shop local numbers here are blog topics to keep you busy for the duration of this Read more…
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…
For many local businesses after the Christmas/winter holiday season passes, the business doldrums of January set in. People have large bills coming in from December spends, the weather keeps people inside, and everyone hunkers down. This makes it difficult to sustain business during this time, particularly in parts of the Read more…
Merchants love being a part of local gift certificate programs. Many of them know the work behind offering a gift card program and are unable to invest the time to research setting one up for their own business. If your chamber, or local business association, offers one that’s something members can’t 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…
