“Buy Local” Campaigns Benefit the Clarkston, MI Community During the Holidays

The holidays are a special time of year when people come together to celebrate and show their loved ones how much they care. What many people don't realize is that when they choose to shop locally during the holidays, they're not only getting great deals on unique gifts, but, as S. Clyde Weaver, Inc. explains, they're also helping to strengthen the local economy and support their community. Here's a look at how “buy local” (or local shopping) campaigns benefit the community and how businesses can get involved according to the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce.

Your Community Benefits from a Shop Local Campaign

When people shop locally during the holidays, they are supporting businesses in their community. This is beneficial for a number of reasons. First, it keeps money within the local economy. Second, it helps to create jobs. Third, it supports small businesses, which are the backbone of many communities. Fourth, it helps to build a sense of community. And fifth, it provides tax revenue that can be used to fund important local services like schools and police departments.

Businesses Can Support Each Other by Collaborating

One of the best ways businesses can support one another during the holidays is by joint marketing and co-hosting events. Joint marketing refers to two or more businesses working together to promote each other's products or services through shared marketing efforts like print ads, online ads, or social media posts. Co-hosting events refers to two or more businesses teaming up to host an event like a holiday open house, trunk show, or customer appreciation day. By working together, businesses can reach a larger audience and have more impactful marketing campaigns while also saving money on marketing costs.

Incentivize Shopping Locally

In addition to offering discounts and coupons, there are several other ways businesses can incentivize shopping locally during the holidays. One way is to offer free gift-wrapping services. Another way is to offer free shipping for orders placed online or over the phone. Still another way is to hold special events like holiday open houses or customer appreciation days. And finally, businesses can offer loyalty programs or rewards points that can be redeemed for future purchases.

Launch Your Local Shopping Campaign

There are several ways businesses can launch a local shopping campaign. One way is to offer discounts or coupons to customers who shop locally. Another way is to partner with other businesses in the community to promote each other's products or services. Still another way is to hold special events or sales that encourage people to shop locally. And finally, businesses can simply spread the word about the benefits of shopping locally to help educate the community.

How to Successfully Promote Your Campaign

There are plenty of ideas out there about how businesses can promote a local shopping campaign. One way is through traditional advertising like print ads, radio ads, or TV ads. Another way is through online marketing techniques like search engine optimization (SEO) or pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. Digital marketing consultant Neal Schaffer notes that still another way is through social media marketing or email marketing campaigns. 

Part of your digital marketing strategy should incorporate the use of PDFs, which are easily uploaded to your website and social media channels and can be easily opened and viewed by customers on virtually any type of screen, whether that’s a computer or smartphone. PDFs are also easy to edit and update, and you can convert a number of different file formats including Word and PowerPoint; simply go online and use a tool to easily make it a PDF instead. 

And finally, businesses can promote a local shopping campaign simply by talking to their customers and letting them know about the benefits of shopping locally.

Fostering Goodwill Within the Community During the Holidays

In addition to promoting and incentivizing local shopping, businesses can also foster goodwill with the community during the holidays by giving back. There are many ways businesses can give back during the holidays including donating products or services to charity auctions or raffles, sponsoring holiday toy drives or food drives, volunteering at soup kitchens or food banks, or simply making financial donations to worthy causes. By giving back during the holidays, businesses not only show their commitment to making a difference in their community but also help make the holidays brighter for those in need.

The holidays are a special time of year when people come together to celebrate and spend time with loved ones. Many people don't realize that when they choose to shop locally during the holidays, they're not only getting great deals on unique gifts, but they're also helping to strengthen the local economy and support their community. Local shopping campaigns benefit everyone involved—businesses gain loyal customers and generate revenue while shoppers get access to great deals on unique gifts while also supporting their community. It's a win-win for everyone!