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Seasonal businesses: post signs year-round

By Becky McCray

Two people are pointing to features on a brick building in a small town downtown

Marketing tip: keep signs up year-round even if you’re a seasonal business. When I toured several small towns in Washington and Idaho with the Inland Northwest Partners, I noticed many part-time and seasonal businesses did not have signs up during their off season. In the town of Deary, Idaho, (population 500) there is a wine […]

April 22, 2024 Filed Under: economic development, entrepreneurship, marketing, mistakes, rural Tagged With: effective marketing, entrepreneurship, retail, seasonal business, service businesses, signage, small business marketing

Shop Local tools: Easy Editorial, Letter to the Editor template to copy

By Becky McCray

It's the Most Wonderful Time to Shop Indie Local

Promote local shopping with a letter to the editor or editorial Step by step instructions Ready to promote local shopping to more of your community? Try an editorial or a letter to the editor. You can submit this to your local newspaper, share it in any organization newsletters, and post it on social media! Step […]

November 27, 2023 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, marketing, rural, shop local Tagged With: holiday shopping, shop indie local, shop local

Shop Indie Local Week and Holiday Season, it’s way more than Shop Small Saturday

By Small Biz Survival

A cat wearing a plaid bandana shown over a background of Shop Indie Local graphics

Guest post by Jen Risley, AMIBA Thank you for your commitment to building the local economy movement! Wishing you an inspiring Shop Indie Local Week with the entire community. My cat Shamu (above) can’t wait for Plaid Friday! One practical step: #ShopIndieLocal It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Any local business or group can start by sharing social […]

November 20, 2023 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, marketing, rural, shop local Tagged With: shop indie local

October is the new December: Shop early, shop indie local

By Small Biz Survival

Heads up, rural retailers: holiday shopping has already started! Guest post by Jen Risley, AMIBA Why promote Shop Indie Local early this holiday season? Because more of us are shopping early for holiday gifts. From National Retail Federation: Over the last decade, consumers have been kicking off their holiday shopping early in order to spread […]

October 5, 2023 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, marketing, rural, shop local Tagged With: retail, shop indie local, shop local, shop small, small business

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