Business & Tech

Merchants Anticipate Shop Local Campaign

A chamber report presented to City Council last month revealed South Pas residents are spending $11 million dining outside the community. This campaign would hopefully change that.

Local business owners may receive a boost from the City this year if Council approves a Shop Local campaign at its meeting Wednesday night.

“We were certainly motivated to create this campaign after the challenges of the Fair Oaks construction,” said President Scott Feldmann. “But it is equally driven by the lingering recession and the need, in general, to promote business.”

“While spending is down, people are spending,” he continued. 

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Initially proposed by Feldmann in August, the campaign would use $29,000 from the chamber's existing budget augmented with $20,000 from the City's funds—and could include YouTube videos, radio underwriting, social media networking, online advertising and street banners.

A report revealed South Pas residents are spending $11 million dining outside the community. “That's $11 million that our very own residents spent with restaurants in other zip codes,” explained Feldmann.

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Postponed for Weeks

What originally began as a holiday campaign may now have to be rethought due to the item being postponed at the past two Council meetings.

"After months of the merchants hurting badly, its disappointing that the campaign has been postponed since it was initially proposed in August,” said owner of and South Pas resident Ellen Daigle. “We needed it to begin in September for a 3-month holiday campaign to make up for what we lost."

City Clerk Sally Kilby says Council agendas are prepared in collaboration with various employees of the City. And while she expects the Shop Local item to be heard at Wednesday’s meeting, it’s not guaranteed.

“Every Mayor comes into office with plans to shorten the discussion and shorten meetings—and they all succeed to some extent,” said Kilby. “…But it’s a constant battle.”

“There has to be sufficient time for Council discuss the issues and really get their arms around it,” added Kilby, also mentioning it’s common that the Mayor will move up items if he/she knows there are multiple residents in the audience looking to speak on the topic.

Leading by Example

While times may have been tough—one merchant said revenue was down 30 percent in May—owners of have rolled with the punches.

“It presented new challenges—both the economy and Fair Oaks project—but we are business people, so we adapt to changes in the marketplace,” said Steve Inzunza, co-owner of Mamma’s.  

Inzunza says for every dollar spent at a South Pas business, 1/3 of that goes back into the local community. He and wife/co-owner Jamie Inzunza are in support of the campaign, and say they're already implementing its message. 

All of Mamma’s products—from promotional T-shirts to ingredients for the pizzas—are sourced locally. This concept, he says, creates a halo effect. “People start talking when they come to town—and end up going to multiple locations.” 

“This is a small close-knit community in South Pas and it’s a unique City. We should celebrate the independent businesses,” he added.


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