Comments on Small Biz Survival: Shop Local Campaigns for Small Towns ebook

Thanks, Katie. Glad to have the link for more reso...

2009-08-19T11:40:56.701-05:00

Thanks, Katie. Glad to have the link for more resources.

American Independent Business Alliance (http://ami...

2009-08-19T10:22:39.104-05:00

American Independent Business Alliance (http://amiba.net) has worked with many small towns/rural areas across the US to start a buy local campaign. They tend to provide one-on-one advice, so their assistance can be really helpful if you still have questions after reading the e-booklet described above. They have many examples how local merchants have collaborated for marketing or purchasing.

Jill, you've given me something to think about...

2009-08-11T13:50:18.321-05:00

Jill, you've given me something to think about. A whole new subject to investigate!

This would make a great affiliate product Becky!

2009-08-11T12:48:47.700-05:00

This would make a great affiliate product Becky!

I don't have any research to point to, but I w...

2009-07-22T22:45:29.665-05:00

I don't have any research to point to, but I will invite an open discussion on this topic with a new post.

what role does "old fashioned" Yellow Pa...

2009-07-22T21:30:58.643-05:00

what role does "old fashioned" Yellow Pages play? Have they priced themselves out of the market? Are businesses reducing YP advertising and shifting it to search engine ads and SEO?

Darrin, you've asked great questions. Even tin...

2009-06-06T13:44:29.817-05:00

Darrin, you've asked great questions. Even tiny Hardtner, Kansas, with only a few hundred people and a couple of retail businesses, has done well with their shop local campaign. They even have signs up as you leave the downtown, "did you really try to buy it in Hardtner?" So that's one idea.

To address your 80% of outside buyers, make your emphasis not on shopping local, but on supporting your community. Those people have chosen to support you by visiting, they are interested in supporting you while they are there. Each purchase they make with your community, makes it easier for you to provide a richer variety of choices from interesting, local shops.

Thanks for the provocative questions!

Hi Becky, I read through the e-book. Great stuff...

2009-05-28T07:48:45.096-05:00

Hi Becky,

I read through the e-book. Great stuff! It's arrival was timely because our Promotions Committee has been discussing this very topic. I've been debating the usefulness of shop local for two reasons. First, in our small city we have a small retail base that really couldn't support the community. As such, our residents have to travel about 20 minutes in any direction for items not carried by local business. Wonder if you have found any communities that have addresses this problem with a shop local campaign.

Also, through a zip code study two years ago we realized that in almost all of our businesses only 20% of sales come locally. I can understand the need to pick-up the local trade, but how do you not offend the 80% of buyers that come from outside?

I always look forward to your posts and tweets. Thanks for sharing.

darrin

Thank you, Rachel. We definitely talk about many o...

2009-05-26T14:46:27.018-05:00

Thank you, Rachel. We definitely talk about many of the same things. I appreciate the great resource you're building for other independent retailers.

hi becky, you might be interested in a site i star...

2009-05-26T13:49:31.755-05:00

hi becky, you might be interested in a site i started called www.retailrehab.co.uk its basically a free site for independent retailers - it sounds like we're thinking along the same lines ...? how interesting i thought i was alone in my way of thinking - feels good to have come across your site - let me know what you think...? have a great tuesday thanks Rachel

Ari, that's a good thought-provoker. I can't ever ...

2009-05-25T22:47:31.528-05:00

Ari, that's a good thought-provoker. I can't ever recall seeing that done in the real world. But I'm going to be watching for it now, so I can report back.

Do you find that local merchants are working toget...

2009-05-25T22:44:20.938-05:00

Do you find that local merchants are working together to help each other out? For instance, if a toy store is located adjacent to a clothing store and both offer 2-for-1 sales, how come those sales never combine stores? What if I want to buy a toy and a hat but not want to pay more money than if the twofer could work in both places?

I'd like to see that model. Do you have best practices of it in action?

You bet, WenDee! I wear it proudly. Thank you!

2009-05-25T17:52:34.907-05:00

You bet, WenDee! I wear it proudly. Thank you!

Sure like that SHOP LOCAL button from the Kansas E...

2009-05-25T17:49:44.229-05:00

Sure like that SHOP LOCAL button from the Kansas Explorers Club - Kansas Sampler Foundation!