March 10, first unofficial Shop Local Delmarva Day

Moving ahead with its plans to encourage Delmarva residents to support their locally owned and operated businesses, Shop Local Delmarva has designated the second Saturday of every month an unofficial Shop Local Delmarva Day.  The first Shop Local Delmarva Day is March 10^th. 

Since Shop Local Delmarva is still growing with only a handful of businesses listed in its directory, the theme for the first Shop Local Delmarva Day is simple – tell everyone you know about the importance of shopping locally – and visit at least one locally owned and operated business!  If you want to do more, some ideas are listed below.

If you own a locally owned and operated business:

• If you are not already listed on Shop Local Delmarva, get listed!  A basic listing is and always will be free.
• If you are already listed and want to run a special for the Shop Local Delmarva Day, please email Shop Local Delmarva with details.  Businesses with a free, basic listing can participate in this one-day special, too, at no charge!
• If your business has a website or a FaceBook page, mention Shop Local Delmarva and the unofficial Shop Local Delmarva Day. 

If you are a consumer:

• Visit at least one locally owned and operated business.  You might find surprises you would never find in a big chain store.
• Tell your favorite locally owned and operated business about Shop Local Delmarva.  Be sure to tell them their basic listing is and always will be free.
• If you run your own website or are active in any of the social media sites, mention Shop Local Delmarva and the unofficial Shop Local Delmarva Day.

As each month passes, hopefully the Shop Local Delmarva Day will generate more enthusiasm and participation.  The only way that will happen is by you telling everyone about it and you shopping at your locally owned and operated business.

Top five keyword searches for February:

Your potential customers found Shop Local Delmarva with these keywords (unedited) through Google, Yahoo, and Bing:

• black caterering businesses in worcester somerset wicomico
• buy local buy Delmarva
• http://www.taylorsfreshorganics.com/
• non profit organizations in accomack county
• talbot hunt club local

2012 Independent Business Survey brings good news

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance, an economic development group based in Washington DC, released its survey of 1,768 independent, locally owned businesses from across 49 states.  The news is good, especially for businesses located in areas where there is an active "shop local" campaign.  Some key findings:

• A larger share (61%) of survey respondents reported revenue growth in 2011 compared to last year's survey, when only 54% of businesses reported an increase in revenue in 2010.
• Independent retailers experienced stronger holiday sales than the industry average. While
  overall holiday sales were up 4.1% in 2011, independent retailers in this survey reported that their holiday sales increased an average of 6.7%.
• More than three-quarters of businesses surveyed said that public awareness of the benefits of supporting locally owned businesses had increased in the last year.
• Independent businesses in communities with an active "buy local" campaign operated by a local business organization reported revenue growth of 7.2% in 2011, compared to 2.6% for those in areas without such an initiative.
• Looking specifically at retail respondents, the survey found that those in areas with an active "buy local" campaign reported holiday sales growth of 8.5% in 2011, compared to 5.2% for those retailers in areas without such an initiative.
• According to 85% of respondents, the fact that their business is locally owned and independent matters to some or most of their customers.

Independent, locally owned businesses located in areas where there was an active "shop local" initiative viewed the initiative positively.  What they had to say about the impact "shop local" initiatives had on their business:

• 42% said the campaign had improved the loyalty of their existing customers.
• 41% said it had brought new customers to their businesses.
• 62% said it had increased local media coverage of independent businesses
• 47% said it had made city officials more aware and supportive of independent businesses
• 42% said it had led to more collaboration, purchasing, and mutual support among local
  businesses

Download the complete survey.

With such reported results, Shop Local Delmarva is stepping up its shop local campaign.  There are three main ways you can help:

• In the planning stage is the promotion of making the second Saturday of every month a Shop Local Delmarva Day.  If you have any ideas or suggestions to help make this campaign appealing and successful, please feel free to post them or email Shop Local Delmarva at general@shoplocaldelmarva.com. 
• Shop Local Delmarva (http://www.shoplocaldelmarva.com/) is averaging about seven visitors per day, and, based on the key word searches, they are looking for locally owned businesses.  Unfortunately, the directory is small and not very useful for the potential customers who may be searching for your business.  Please tell your favorite locally owned and operated businesses about Shop Local Delmarva.  Remember, all locally owned and operated businesses receive a basic listing for free and the basic listing will always be free.
• Support your locally owned and operated businesses and Shop Local, Delmarva!