Strength in Numbers: Building an Effective "Buy Local" Campaign
“Buy independent/buy local” campaigns are spreading rapidly, and with good reason. Properly designed, such initiatives can enhance a community’s economic and civic vitality by persuading residents to come downtown instead of shopping at power centers, malls, and online stores. The dozens of visual examples presented in this session will help you learn keys to successful efforts and decide which actions and approaches can benefit your community. We’ll explore ways to convince citizens, business owners, governments, and organizations to become part of, or partner with, your initiative. You’ll also learn about a wide range of funding mechanisms available for campaigns to promote independent local business. Come to this session and get valuable tips and tools to make sure that your next buy local campaign makes the greatest impact.
Learning Objectives:
- Decide whether to launch a campaign and whether to do so through an existing organization or by setting up another entity.
- Create effective messaging, taglines and materials for a public education campaign within your community
- Decide initiative will yield the greatest benefit for your community, based on local characteristics and available resources
Presenters:
Jeff Milchen, American Independent Business Alliance, Bozman, Montana
