Chamber, city encourage residents to shop local

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The Greater Fayette County Chamber of Commerce is working with the City of Vandalia to put on the American Express, “Shop Small, Shop Local” event on Nov. 27. The goal of this event is to encourage local residents to do their holiday shopping with the small businesses in their community–particularly the brick-and-mortar businesses. The goal is to keep more money within the local economy. According to American Express, when people shop locally, “approximately 67 cents of every dollar spent at a small business remain in the local community.”

Coupons offered to customers by local small businesses in Vandalia are part of the offshoot, “#ValueVandalia” campaign, which seeks to encourage local residents to shop in Vandalia stores. Vandalia City Administrator and Treasurer LaTisha Paslay spoke with local Vandalia business leaders and discovered that if Vandalia residents used all the coupons offered on the sheet, it “could realize approximately $416,000 spent locally just by getting people inside the businesses.” As such, there is a lot of potential value in “shop small” not just for residents, but for the economic welfare of the entire community as well.

However, Paslay wanted to remind Vandalia residents that this isn’t a one-time event. Paslay said, “While we recognize Small Business Saturday, we want that mentality all season, all year.” Additionally, the Executive Director for the Greater Fayette County Chamber of Commerce Jill Tarkington wanted residents to know that this was the fourth year this event has taken place, and that the coupons offered do not expire until March of next year. Jill also said, “That gives everyone an opportunity to support your local businesses.”

Those interested can go to the website for American Express and obtain a media kit which contains window clings for shops, among other promotional items. Local businesses are distributing the coupon sheets for those residents who want to get behind keeping their dollars local.