************************************************************
********************* Cut This Coupon ****************
*
* BUY FROM 3 LOCAL MERCHANTS AND
* GET 40% OFF 3 ITEMS AT UNIQUE MOTIF
* local merchant receipts must be less than 10 (ten) days old
* not valid from Big Box, franchises, meals, liquor or porn
*
* Not valid with other offers – expires 23 December 2009
*
************************************************************
************************************************************
In the former days, local retail shops were all there was to pick from. It was the responsibility of the merchant to advertise his wares and his stores and to provide the best service to retain his customers. If he failed in this, it was his own fault. Around the 1930s, grocers began to for coops. This enhanced their buying power and the coops spread across regions and the nation. Many of the local grocers belonged to these coops, so the stores retained that local flavor.
Then, along came the 1953 and McDonalds and the age of retail systems and national branding came alive. Soon chains of huge warehouse stores and franchise businesses grew out of the wake of the national branding explosion. It has become nearly impossible for local merchants to compete for marketing position against huge retailers and mass marketing. Huge chains and franchises have huge budgets for advertising. Small merchants do not. For this reason, local merchants need the help of their neighbors to be successful. It truly takes a team effort for local shops to be successful.
What does the consumer gain by shopping at huge chains and franchises? A lot of eye candy. They can be awed by the selection – but who is going to take a hundred of something home with them? They might be seduced to thinking they are getting low prices – which may be true on some items, but not all. And they get to shop at stores and shops that all have a similar look and feel – boring!
What do you gain by shopping at your local merchant? You get the satisfaction of knowing you are helping a neighbor and reinforcing your local economy. You shop in a diversity of atmospheres – and it is the local merchants that give a town flavor and character. You are able to meet and talk with the owners of the store – they will listen to your suggestions and service you better. You will discover that local merchants usually have competitive prices and where they don’t, they are willing to negotiate to help you have a pleasant shopping experience.
This week, stop in at three local stores and see what they have to offer you. Then, bring your receipts in to Unique Motif, along with the coupon above, and receive 40% OFF three items of your choice. No other purchase is necessary (but will be appreciated). For more information on local businesses, go to http://uniquemotif.com/decor/local-businesses/
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 at 9:51 am and is filed under commentary, local economy.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
// Both Comments and Pings are open ?>
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Helping Our Local Economy Is A Team Effort
********************* Cut This Coupon ****************
*
* BUY FROM 3 LOCAL MERCHANTS AND
* GET 40% OFF 3 ITEMS AT UNIQUE MOTIF
* local merchant receipts must be less than 10 (ten) days old
* not valid from Big Box, franchises, meals, liquor or porn
*
* Not valid with other offers – expires 23 December 2009
*
************************************************************
************************************************************
In the former days, local retail shops were all there was to pick from. It was the responsibility of the merchant to advertise his wares and his stores and to provide the best service to retain his customers. If he failed in this, it was his own fault. Around the 1930s, grocers began to for coops. This enhanced their buying power and the coops spread across regions and the nation. Many of the local grocers belonged to these coops, so the stores retained that local flavor.
Then, along came the 1953 and McDonalds and the age of retail systems and national branding came alive. Soon chains of huge warehouse stores and franchise businesses grew out of the wake of the national branding explosion. It has become nearly impossible for local merchants to compete for marketing position against huge retailers and mass marketing. Huge chains and franchises have huge budgets for advertising. Small merchants do not. For this reason, local merchants need the help of their neighbors to be successful. It truly takes a team effort for local shops to be successful.
What does the consumer gain by shopping at huge chains and franchises? A lot of eye candy. They can be awed by the selection – but who is going to take a hundred of something home with them? They might be seduced to thinking they are getting low prices – which may be true on some items, but not all. And they get to shop at stores and shops that all have a similar look and feel – boring!
What do you gain by shopping at your local merchant? You get the satisfaction of knowing you are helping a neighbor and reinforcing your local economy. You shop in a diversity of atmospheres – and it is the local merchants that give a town flavor and character. You are able to meet and talk with the owners of the store – they will listen to your suggestions and service you better. You will discover that local merchants usually have competitive prices and where they don’t, they are willing to negotiate to help you have a pleasant shopping experience.
This week, stop in at three local stores and see what they have to offer you. Then, bring your receipts in to Unique Motif, along with the coupon above, and receive 40% OFF three items of your choice. No other purchase is necessary (but will be appreciated). For more information on local businesses, go to http://uniquemotif.com/decor/local-businesses/
This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 at 9:51 am and is filed under commentary, local economy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. // Both Comments and Pings are open ?> You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.