Gloucester, VA - Shop Local A Total Bust But We Have A Surprise For Local Businesses.

There are times when we would prefer to be wrong about an issue, and the Shop Local campaign is one of those issues we would rather have been wrong about.  Our hearts go out to the local businesses that planned for and were hoping an increase in business would have come on the Shop Local event day.

  The Gloucester Mathews Gazette Journal confirmed what we knew ahead of time, the results of this event are being called an attempt to get local residents and visitors to take advantage of the selection and service offered by local independent stores.  In other words, it was a complete bust.  We have two new campaigns coming very soon to help local businesses advertise themselves very effectively and also contribute to the community and tourism all at the same time.  Plus we have plans where each business will be giving away something of value to each customer and all at no cost to the business.  Just some planning time and very low cost printing.  Much cheaper than any other form of advertising.

  The campaigns can be used by any business and no two businesses using the campaign will be in competition with any others also using the campaign.  Something that the Gloucester Main Street Association and or the Gloucester County tourism should have stepped up to do a long time ago.  The new campaigns are specifically designed to be used in Gloucester County only.  Outside businesses would not be able to take advantage of these campaigns as they are centered around Gloucester County.  But enough of giving away the surprise we have coming for you.  It's back to the final touches and getting it set up for you to take advantage of.

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Gloucester, VA - Shop Local Included Big Box Franchise Retailers

The recent Shop Local campaign that touted reasons to shop at small local retailers included big box franchise retailers into the mix for shop local.

  Businesses like Ace Hardware, a Chevrolet automotive dealership, and Napa Auto Parts to name a few.  Now granted they are local businesses, but then again so is Wal Mart and Rite Aid.

  The campaign was not at all a success for all of the local businesses either.  One business we spoke with had zero net results by being a part of the Shop Local campaign and ended up closing the doors a few hours early due to a tremendous lack of business and finding something better to spend time on.

Franchise businesses are about as local as Big Lot's and other major retail chains.  If McDonald's can not be considered a local small business, then how do you include Ace Hardware and the other franchises that were mixed into the campaign?  Shop Gloucester would have been a much better campaign looking at all the facts here.  This destroys the idea that out of every $100.00 spent at a local merchant $45.00 stays in the community as opposed to $13.00 per hundred spent at the big box retailers.  What is the dollar figure for local franchised businesses that were included into the Shop Local campaign?  We have no idea and have not been able to trace where Chesapeake Bank came up with their facts here either.

  With more campaigns run as well as this one was, then the below sign is sure to be a vision of the future.

Free MP3 download.  Kelly Allyn - "Don't Count On It" is the title track for this post.  It's a bit country and it's a bit rcok n roll.  CC Lic 3.0 Attrib/Share Alike.
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Gloucester, VA Shop Local Results Predictable - GMSA Thrown Under The Bus?

We are hoping the best for the local businesses participating in the Shop Local campaign.  We see so many problems with the planning and execution of this concept that the results are predictable.  Due to poor communications and a lack of solid leadership for this campaign as well as a bad name, the results will be less than sterling with no long term benefits.  To name one issue we saw, the list of participating stores for each area where these campaigns are being held was not communicated well to the public at all.

The lists should have been updated in the local newspapers in each community starting a month ahead of time and expanding as the list expanded.  This was not done in Gloucester.  We managed to get a list of local participating Gloucester stores at the last minute and have included it with this post.

  Second on our list of issues we see.  Most of the store offers are seriously lacking.  Some merchants are only offering a discount if you can show that you shopped other merchants first, making a purchase and then you have to have a minimum purchase with them to get the terrible discount on offer.  Can you say, "We Value Your Business?"  Someone needed to take a leadership role in this area months ago and taught local businesses how to create offers that work.

  Sorry, we are not going to give away the information on how to make irresistible offers that work.  That's one everyone that wants to know will have to pay for.  Free advice is only worth what you pay for it when it comes to these types of matters.  The list below looks like it was thrown together at the last minute.  Poor planning and execution.

  The expected results for this project are low turnout, low sales and no foreseeable long term gains whatsoever for Gloucester Merchants anyway.  We have not looked at other areas to see if they managed to get any of it right.  Now was the Gloucester Main Street Association thrown under the bus by the local paper, Chamber of Commerce and Chesapeake Bank at the last minute?  The GMSA has been piggybacking this campaign since the beginning and this weeks paper makes no mention of their involvement in the least bit.

  Third on our list of issues is that we are only looking at a one day campaign.  It would have worked better shooting for a one week campaign.  And again, better advertising and promotions needed to go into the entire idea.

  Overall, it's not the idea that is bad.  The slogan is awful as there is no such thing as being able to shop local anymore in this global world.  We would like to see a better effort and more thought go into a future campaign as well as stronger communications of who, what and where and better reasons as to why.  The Chesapeake Bank's 5 reasons to shop local were a disgrace.

From the Chesapeake Blog.  "Mother Nature will love you

Transportation by sea and by air cause significant damage to our atmosphere according to this infographic from ELocal.com.  Each year, shipments by sea omit one billion metric tons of carbon monoxide and burn off 11 billion gallons of fuel. Also, the United States produces 11.9 million tons of plastic packaging, 90 percent of which ends up in a landfill after just one use."

Shipments by sea omit - take out? - one billion tons of carbon monoxide?  That should be emit and who cares?  Shipments by sea are the most economical form of transportation on the planet.  The United States produces 11.9 million tons of plastic packaging with 90% of which ends up in a landfill after one use.  And Gloucester County gets local people to pick it up off the streets for free, so again, who cares?  Plastic by the way is made from oil.  Our entire economy is built on plastic and other oil derivatives as well as our pharmaceutical drugs.  Everything you can think of depends on oil in one form or another.  I can't think of a better reason to raise prices on everything by claiming it causes so much damage and destruction.  Regulations must be passed to increase the prices even more.  Green people are their own worst enemies and the oil companies really really love them because of it.

  Here is the list of participating businesses in the Shop Local campaign.  Gee, the GMSA didn't have an offering of s special discount for potential new member businesses?  Shame on them.    

Gloucester County

Participating Merchants
Rick's Country Store 6911 Ark Rd. Deli- Lunch Specials

Vashti's Jewelry & Gift
Shoppe 6734 Edgehill Shopping Center 20% off select merchandise

The Bulb Shoppe &
Gardens at Brent and
Becky's Bulbs
7900 Daffodil Lane, Gloucester Receive a free gift with any purchase on April 27th.
"Plant Bulbs & Harvest Smiles"

Gloucester-Mathews
Gazette Journal Subscribe Here
$5 off any new subscription to the paper through the
end of May. Call 804-693-7844 or email
info@gazettejournal.net

Wisteria Lane Antiques 6552 Main St. Gloucester Special discounts throughout the entire store.
Jessica's on Main 6553 Main St. Gloucester
Show your receipts from shopping locally on April 27
and receive 5% off with one receipt, 10% with two
receipts, 15% with three receipts or more!

Field's Quilting & Craft
Supplies 6568 Main St. Gloucester
In support of "Shop Local Day" we will have various
sales running throughout the store and in-store
demonstrations on some of our newest tools.

Gloucester Arts on Main 6580 B Main St. Gloucester A 10% discount on selected items

Angelwing Stationers 6580 Main St. Gloucester
Visit our charming shop for 10% off (excluding
consignments, sale items and special orders). Buy 2
cocktail napkins get one FREE.

Olivia's in the Village 6597 Main St. Gloucester 5% discount if you mention "Shop Local Day"

The Nurtury 6618 Main St. Gloucester
FREE salt scrubs with a $10 purchase AND proof of
purchase from other local businesses on Shop Local
Day - 1 for 1, 1 for 2…up to 4 FREE (and different)
salt scrubs!

Smith's Florist 6626 Main St. Gloucester 30% off all gift items (garden, nautical, Yankee
Candles). Excludes fresh flowers and plants.
Buttons-N-Bows 6628 Main St. Gloucester 20% off regular priced merchandise and an additional
10% off already reduced merchandise.

The Silver Box 6630 Main St. Gloucester 20% off all Jewelry excluding Pandora
Kelsick Specialty Market 6632 Main St. Gloucester 10% Storewide Discount and Food Tastings

Oasis Books 6670 Main St. Gloucester Mention "Shop Local Day" and receive 10% off all
merchandise.

Ware Neck Produce 6682 Main St. Gloucester 10 lb. bag of potatoes for only $1.29
Shop%Local%Day%04.27.13The Courthouse
Restaurant 6714 Main St. Gloucester FREE pancake with purchase of breakfast.
Office Supply 6740 Main St. Gloucester 15% discount storewide except on sale items and
printer cartridges

Courthouse Pawnshop Inc.6743 Main St. Gloucester Silver Jewelry sale!
Laurel Shelter, Inc. Thrift
Store 6744 Main St. Gloucester 50% off everything!

Goodman's Antiques and
Interiors 6871 Main St. Gloucester 10% off all items excluding gold, silver, and sale
items.

Naturals Nails & More 7282 York Ave. Gloucester
Courthouse
Manicure/Pedicure for $50 (Normally $60). All
products 10% off. Enter to win a FREE manicure!
Offers apply both Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April
27. Open Friday 10 am to 5 pm and this Saturday
extending hours to 9 am to 3 pm.

Nuttal General Store 6495 Ware Neck Rd.
Proudly serving the Ware Neck community since
1869! Ware Neck Merchandise 20% off including
jams, jellies, mugs, hats, soap, and powder.

Morning Glory Gallery 7840 Ware Neck Road
Paintings, pottery, jewelry and gift items by local and
regional artists. Custom framing. Stop by for great
deals and customer service that goes beyond the norm.

Brickwood Grill 5036 George Washington Mem. Hwy. Buy 2 dinner entrees, get $5 off your bill.

Rappahannock Concrete
Corp. 5266 George Washington Mem. Hwy.
Come see our fire-pits, outdoor fireplaces and other
products for creating beautiful outdoor living spaces.
10% off retail price of in-stock hardscape products or
landscaping stone.

Village Cleaners 6626 Gloucester St. 20% off on all incoming dry cleaning and laundry
orders.

Evergreen 6828 George Washington Mem. Hwy. 5% off all materials purchased in bulk

Bill Hudgins Automotive,
Inc. 6907 George Washington Mem. Hwy. $300 off any new car purchase on April 27, 2013

Lockwood's Carpet 7012 George Washington Mem. Hwy. THE MORE YOU BUY THE MORE YOU SAVE!
Save up to $500! See store for details.
Tidewater Tropical
Greenhouses 9730 John Clayton Mem. Hwy. 10% off all plants plus 1 free "Silver Falls Diacondra"

Digital Renaissance 1747 George Washington Mem. Hwy. 10% off all car audio and computers or laptops. $25
off virus removal.

TR's Tobacco Outlet 1779 George Washington Mem. Hwy. Assorted jar candles on sale! Regularly priced $7.99.
Shop Local Day price $5.99.

Sweet Madeleine's 2091 George Washington Mem. Hwy. Buy any entrée and beverage and receive a FREE
dessert.

Shop%Local%Day%04.27.13Green Planters Garden
Center 2290 George Washington Mem. Hwy. Fruit Tree Sale (Peach, Apple, Pear, Plum) only $19.99
each

Juan's Mexican Café &
Cantina Inc. 2310 George Washington Mem. Hwy. 10% off food on "Shop Local Day"

The Gloucester Florist 2336 York Crossing Drive Hayes 20% off on all cash & carry purchases.

Crazy J's 2352 George Washington Mem. Hwy 10% storewide discount plus additional 5% on new
furniture and mattresses.

Blown Away Hair Salon 2368 George Washington Mem. Hwy. Mention "Shop Local Day" and receive $5 off any
color service or $2 off a hair cut.

Gloucester Supply & Ace
Hardware 2384 Hayes Rd. (Old 17) Free house key (KWI or SCI) with minimum $5
purchase

Napa Auto Parts 2513 George Washington Mem. Hwy. 5 quarts NAPA full synthetic motor oil & filter only
$19.99

Hudgins Nursery 2604 Hudgins Rd. Hayes Discounts to be determined based on stock.

Wicomico General Store 2902 Carmine's Island Rd. Hayes Greeting Cards 2 for $1.00, Year of Birth Cards Reg.
$2.59 now $1.99

Gloucester Pawn 2998-A George Washington Mem.
Hwy.
20% off jewelry and one free DVD with every
purchase.

Rick's Upholstery 3352 George Washington Mem. Hwy.
Mention "Shop Local" and get 10% off on all
purchases the week of April 22-26. Sorry, we're
closed on Saturdays.

Franktronics, Inc. 3618 George Washington Mem. Hwy.
Bring in your computer and we will diagnose it for
FREE. Diagnostic fees will be waived for laptops
($40 value) and desktops ($25 value) on "Shop Local
Day"

Pure Paisley Consignment
Shoppe 3682 George Washington Mem. Hwy. Any one item 20% off. Shoes, handbags, and jewelry
10% off (excludes certain vintage items)

Massage and Movement
Therapy 3759 George Washington Mem. Hwy.
1 hour Swedish massage $40.00. 75 minute deep
pressure massage $60.00. When making an
appointment or getting a gift certificate, you must
mention "Shop Local" to receive these special
discounts. Offers will expire May 15, 2013

Auto Max of Gloucester 3968 George Washington Mem. Hwy.
Mention "Shop Local Day" and receive 2 free oil
changes and 1 complete detail with any vehicle
purchased on Saturday, April 27. Receive HUGE
discounts thousands below market value as advertised
in this week's Gloucester Gazette.

The Pet Castle 4123 George Washington Mem. Hwy.
25 % off a single item or 10% off entire purchase
Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28. 15% for all
military, law enforcement or CHP holders.

Stacie's Second Chance 4183 George Washington Mem. Hwy.
10% off storewide on furniture and home decor
(excluding paint). Additional discounts may apply on
all retail.

Shop%Local%Day%04.27.13Bridal Boutique of
Gloucester 4435 George Washington Mem. Hwy. 10% off on April 27th, includes special orders and in
stock items.

Tangled Up 4670 George Washington Mem. Hwy. $5 off hair cuts and $10 off colors.
.
4 Ur Health 4858 George Washington Mem. Hwy. Mention "Shop Local Day" for in-store discounts &
promotions!

Marketplace Antiques 4872 George Washington Mem. Hwy Discounts from 10%-70% off on select items
throughout the shop!

Threads 4 Kids 4896 George Washington Mem. Hwy.
We are a children's retail/consignment shop and
regularly have sale items. For "Shop Local Day" we
are offering a 20% discount off 1 item.

Brown Bottoms Tanning
Salon 4906 George Washington Mem. Hwy. 10% off packages or bottled lotion
Off The Hook 4922 George Washington Mem. Hwy. Buy any two entrees and receive a complementary
appetizer of your choice.

Crossfit Gloucester 4924 George Washington Mem. Hwy.
$50 off CrossFit 101- Includes Intro to CrossFit
sessions and 1 month! CrossFit Gloucester Members
bring a friend for FREE to all Saturday classes at 8:00
or 9:00 am.

RC Pro Racing 7094 Hayes Shopping Center
Sorry, we'll be closed Saturday, April 27. Going to
RIR for the race of course! Please visit us next week
4/24 to 5/4 and receive 10% off all rockets and models
if you mention "Shop Local".

92.3FM The Tide & 107.9
BachFM, Williamsburg
Yorktown Daily
wydaily.com
The Save30 Store
In honor of "Shop Local Day" this Saturday, April 27
and Sunday, April 28, when you spend $75 or more at
the Save30 Store at wydaily.com, get an extra 10% off
and SAVE 40!
Cardinal Waste Services Call 804-758-5480 or email
admin@cardinalwasteservices.com
The Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula's Premiere
Garbage Collector! New customers who sign up on
Saturday, April 27 and mention "Shop Local Day" will
receive a FREE month of service!
Ambrose Disposal
Services
Call 804-725-7053 or email
ambrosedisposalservice@verizon.net
Established in 1970, this family-owned and operated
corporation serves all of the Middle Peninsula and
Northern Neck from the Potamac to the York River.
New customers who sign up on Saturday, April 27 and
mention "Shop Local Day" get their first 2 months
FREE!
Shop%Local%Day%04.27.13


Free MP3 download.  La Marea is the track by Mary and Juan.  Classical guitar for some light easy listening that is very upbeat.  CC Lic 3.0 non commercial/attribute.
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Gloucester, VA - Shop Local - Wal Mart Needs More Money

English: A Bank of America Banking Center at Porter Ranch Town Center, a shopping center in Porter Ranch. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Big Lots (Photo credit: kenteegardin)

English: simulated Wal-Mart logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rite Aid (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Old Ruby Tuesday logo and slogan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Photo from the Gloucester Main Street Association.

The Gloucester Main Street Association decided to send us their Shop Local campaign ad to show us what they think are the benefits they are selling.  Shop local, Wal-Mart, Food Lion, Rite Aid, Ollie's, Lowe's, Home Depot, Big Lots, Tractor Supply, Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday's, Bank of America, Sun Trust, these are all local businesses right?  These businesses have local employees right?  They get paychecks don't they?

  If the employees get paychecks, the buck stays here if they pay local bills, isn't that correct?  We can go on and on with local/national businesses that all contribute to the community.  That's the issue here that these people just do not get.  That is if they really want to get it.

Again we will show the poster that shows benefits for shopping local.  You want to show why shopping local makes a difference.  Slogans are all fine and dandy when used properly.  The slogans are not being used properly.  We just showed that above.  

  If we are shopping for the best price on a new LED LCD TV with 3D, We are going to go local in Williamsburg or Newport News.  Not Gloucester.  The selection isn't here.  Wal Mart may have 2 TV's in stock that meet our criteria. In Newport News, we can find a multitude of selections at a number of stores.  It's still local for us.  It has not left Virginia.  Define local.  The GMSA is supposed to be promoting the businesses on Main Street right?  You wouldn't know it with their campaigns.

  Live Local?  As opposed to where?  Are we trying to kick out the tourists?  What message are we sending to the tourists with Shop Local?  Go back home and buy your stuff there instead?  Bank local.  What?  No Internet banking?  You can't get more local than your own home computer.  Anyone have any other great ideas to waste money on?  We just keep falling on the floor laughing very hard at the sheer lunacy of this entire farce.  

  How about fly local.  Instead of flying out of some major airport on a major airline, hire a local pilot to fly you to Japan.  Golf local.  Vacation local.  Take in a major Broadway show local?  What about local wine?  Gloucester has some great vineyards.  Drink local.  Bike local.  Gloucester has some of the best bike paths in the nation.  In fact, we are world leaders here.  Go to our local amusement parks?

 Here's a photo of Gloucester's very own world class amusement park.  Future plans may include broken glass, sharp metal objects and rusty nails.  

Yeah boy, keep it local.  Die local too we would suppose.  

What is supposed to be the idea behind shop local is to get customers into local businesses and not the big box national chains isn't it?  Is that being conveyed anywhere?  No!  Another question.  Is anyone going to be checking ID's at the local stores to make sure that only local people get the local discounts?  Where is the list of local retailers that are participating in the Shop Local campaign?  

  The GMSA does not have a list.  Instead they say see local Main Street businesses for special discounts.  Is the Gloucester County government offering any discounts?  10% off your tax bill today only?  Free park access passes to area parks that are already free?  Free glass of water when you pay your water bill?  Get out of jail free if you get busted today?  (April 27th, 2013).  

  WHERE ARE THE BENEFITS!  Why should we waste our valuable time?  Is the GMSA getting the message yet?  How hard would it have been to put together a list of participating businesses and maybe even include what the discounts might be?  But then they would have to actually care about local businesses.  Quick, everyone run to the GMSA to sign up for all of these great benefits and pay out the nose for that membership.  You too can be included in all of these fantastic concepts that waste your money?  

Be sure to visit this shop while you are in the Main Street area.  They are offering free window tours.  

  In all seriousness, Gloucester Main Street has some very fine places to shop.  Olivia's is a wonderful place to eat as is the Wild Rabbit Cafe.  Kelsick market has a great wine and beer selection as well as wonderful foods.  We have heard that the bakery in the area is also wonderful.  It's more than worth your time to hit these shops and don't wait for the Shop Local campaign to kick in to do so.  Anna's has Gloucester's best Pizza hands down.  The library is worth a visit and so is the Gloucester Museum of History.  We can not forget Rosemary and Wine either.  Well worth a visit when you are hungry.  

  It's worth your time to once again explore Main Street for a few hours.  The sidewalks are a serious joke especially with the light poles in the middle of them, but do not let that discourage you.  Parking is also a mess, but again, well worth your time to find a good spot.  We would love to see a good solid campaign done for the area businesses.  Just don't look for it to come out of the GMSA.  The area needs one solid business leader to take a leadership role in the area and actually do what has to be done.  It's not that hard or that expensive.  Time consuming yes.  But not at all hard.

 

  It has to be making area businesses sick with all the poor planning yet all the money poured into this joke of Shop Local that was not in the least well executed.  Can the businesses get their money back?

  It is our best wishes that local area businesses do get benefits from this.  We are sure that the GMSA will have an article in the paper claiming it was a huge success.  It's not in their best interest not to.  If you are one of the local businesses participating in this campaign and do not see a benefit, let the paper know about it.  They might even report it.  Maybe.

Free MP3 Download.  Don Ward - Clear Blue Now is the track.  CC Lic 3.0

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