Start a Shop Local or Green Business Campaign

Description

A shop local campaign is an advertising campaign and/or fund-raising effort to highlight the benefits of shopping at locally owned and operated businesses and increase patronage at those businesses. A green business campaign gets more businesses to participate in sustainable business practices and get their customers to support them in those efforts. Supporting local and green businesses increases community economic health, social solidarity, and benefits the environment too. Buy local campaigns are often pioneered by a local business association and benefit businesses and residents.

Get Started

Neighborhood Benefits

Environmental

Social

Economic

Get Started

1. Organize Form a steering committee of 6 - 15 people, mostly local business owners, a few interested individuals, and any neighborhood leaders or leaders of relevant organizations.
2. Kickoff Set a date for a kick-off event such as a press conference to announce the campaign or an event to sell/give away campaign material. This gives immediate media visibility and helps with your initial recruitment drive. You can also hold a gathering for business owners, perhaps at a local restaurant or performance venue. You can also invite AMIBA or BALLE to visit your community and lead a workshop.
3. Brand Devise a name, slogan, and logo. Consider asking local designers to volunteer their services in exchange for free membership. Many examples of slogans and logos can be found online, but it is best to be creative and highlight the things that are unique about your community.
4. Campaign Develop a campaign kit. This is the packet of materials that businesses receive when they join. It might include a welcome letter, a window decal of the campaign logo for their storefront, tips for promoting the campaign, a "Top 10 Reasons to Support Locally Owned Businesses" flyer for distributing to customers, frequently asked questions about the campaign, a list of participating businesses, and a poster. You should also create a basic web site. (Again, consider asking local print shops and web developers to volunteer their services in exchange for free membership.)There are various types of campaigns including the traditional one defined above. Other creative ideas are:
   1. Have residents pledge to spend $10 a week on local food 
   2. Offer discounts or benefits for local residents
   3. Offer discounts/benefits for people that walk or ride bikes 
   4. Create a business recycling challenge
   5. Create a local product or shop guide
   6. Neighborhood groups advertising local business with a mailer/map/flyer
   7. Encourage bike delivery/courier service
   8. Local food/farmers market/restaurant partnership program 
   9. Host a buy local day or week-long event
5. Define Membership Define membership and determine which businesses are eligible to participate in the campaign. Contact AMIBA for examples of how other buy local efforts define "locally owned" and "independent." Decide how much it will cost businesses to join. Some alliances start out with fairly substantial dues rates. Others opt for a modest initial membership fee ($20- 30)—just enough to cover the cost of producing start-up materials and organizing their first events—and raise it in subsequent years as the campaign expands and gains influence.
6. Advertise Hold your kick-off event in a significant place, such as a downtown square or in front of a landmark local business. Send out a media advisory a couple of days ahead and a press release the day before. A few committee members should speak briefly at the event about the importance of local businesses and the goals of the campaign. Another option is to host an informal breakfast or cocktail hour gathering to introduce the campaign to business owners. A cashmob could be organized in which participants patronize a specific local business to highlight their important role in the community and give them a boost in sales for the day.
7. Recruit Begin recruiting members. You might start by sending out a letter, signed by one or more prominent members of your steering committee, inviting businesses to join the campaign. Check with your St. Louis Regional Council for local business contact information.
8. Grow Continue to grow your membership and campaign. Hold events to boost awareness and appreciate your members and patrons. Develop a more extensive presence and website and work toward taking on more complex projects within the district and the city.  

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Start a Shop Local or Green Business Campaign Doc (456.41 KB pdf)