An update of a popular blog post from July 15, 2019

Next year will mark the 25th anniversary of  Independent Retailer Month, which was started In 2003 as National Independent Retailer Week. Tom Shay, principal of Profits Plus Solutions, wanted to encourage retailers to create celebrations for their communities, industries and own businesses. 

Now is the perfect time to start planning how you will use this opportunity to promote your shop. The core principal is that of the buy local movement – educating the public about how the community benefits financially with the jobs created and dollars re-spent locally.

This year’s event encourages retailers, community leaders and local organizations to take this pledge: “Join us in committing to shop independent retail year round and to use July as a time to celebrate the independent retailers that help build up our economy.”

One way that Independent Retailer Month does this is by providing a wide array of free resources. There is a proclamation you can send as a suggestion to city, county, parish, state, or province officials, as well as graphics for social media, postcards and signage that can be downloaded for free.

There is also a list of activity ideas, including:

• Bonus bucks: Give customers a $1 coupon for every $10 they spend in your store in July. The coupon would be redeemable in August.

• Shopping crawl: Team up with neighboring independent retailers to host a shopping crawl providing a map and prizes for participants.

• Drop and Shop: Invite customers to donate lightly worn clothing/shoes in your store for a local cause such as Dress for Success and receive an exclusive deal in-store that day.

• Check-in deals: Offer every shopper that “checks in” or tags to your store on social media an exclusive promotion in store.

There are statistics available on the website that you can use in press releases and social media. This is an important opportunity to share the message of supporting independent businesses with your community, especially if you don’t have an active buy local organization. Start with “Independents” Day on July 4 – and plan additional activities to help make all of July a banner month.

Happy Retailing,
Carol “Orange” Schroeder