Retailer/Business Campaign Kits included:

• Information about the Retailer Campaign goals - the power of this campaign is in the widespread participation. We want the general public to see the campaign messages everywhere and to think LOCAL first whether they are choosing a restaurant, gifts, a home re-model contractor, or where to bank!
• 'Why Buy Local' - key points that local business owners can include in newsletters, letters to the editors of local newspapers, employee education, displays, etc.
• 'Why Buy Local?' thank you cards - high quality template for re-prints. Basic message is 'THANK YOU for choosing local - look for this logo for ALL your shopping choices!' The cards also have additional 'Why Local' factoids. These cards can be stapled to receipts, used as inserts with purchases, as gift cards, and more.
• 'Why Buy Local?' poster illustrating the personal benefits of choosing locally owned businesses
• Campaign logo and tagline for business ads - camera ready and/or in digital format
• Window decal with the Campaign logo indicating, 'Shop here!'
• Tip sheet - Other ideas for in-store and outreach participation

Media Outreach

Sustainable Connections ensured wide spread publicity in phase one, including extensive radio coverage, a spot on KVOS television, letters to the editor, an article in the Downtown Renaissance Network Advertorial, articles in the Bellingham Herald, Bellingham Weekly, Business Pusle, Business Journal, Lynden Tribune, articles in local business newspapers and an advertisement for campaign participants.

December 6th Buy Local Day!

Businesses participating in Buy Local Day displayed a window decal and poster and used the logo in their ads and fliers. They also distributed a fun game flyer and "I shopped local today" stickers to customers.

Media Release - Buy Local Day Game Winner -

Close to 100 local citizens carefully saved, cataloged and mailed in a month's worth of shopping receipts in the hopes of winning one of three major prizes for the Think Local, Buy Local, Be Local Campaign. Many more citizens, according to local business owners and their cashiers, were enthusiastically collecting receipts for the game throughout the holiday season. On December 6th, Whatcom County's Buy Local Day, close to 300 local, independently owned businesses distributed game flyers that detailed the search for our number one Local Lover, Safari Shopper, and BUY-LOCAL HERO.

Sara Hill, 47, a Washington native who came to Bellingham in 1984 and works as a graphic designer, is our County's first Safari Shopper AND number one Buy-Local Hero! For the 25-day period between Buy Local Day and December 31st, 2003, she collected receipts from seventeen areas throughout Whatcom County, including Acme, Blaine, Sumas, Sudden Valley, Ferndale, Deming, Birch Bay, Lynden, Glacier, Maple Falls, Welcome, Kendall, Lummi Island, Nooksack and Custer! She also turned in receipts collected during the 25-day period, from a whopping 71 unique local businesses - the highest winning number from different locations. She had this to say, "I love this area for the environment, natural beauty and recreational opportunities. I also appreciate our vibrant community of caring, involved people. I'm a very strong supporter of buying local and the local community. I'm not usually much of a shopper, but enjoyed 'playing this game.' It was good that the contest wasn't concerned with the amount spent, but just when, where and how often we supported local stores!"

Marti Leviel, 57, who came to Bellingham in 1995, is the owner of Pet Panache, officiates weddings and is studying to be a Rabbi.  Marti is our County's first Local Lover. She tied several other contestants for sending in a receipt from every date between December 6th and 31st, and won in a drawing. She had this to say, I think the concept of "thinking local first" is so very important if we want a vibrant Whatcom County.  Yes, the big guys provide jobs to our community so their survival matters also.  But just as you have to put your own oxygen mask on first before you help your children, you must support your local community before you support the larger.

The Safari Shopper and Local Lover won $100 gift certificates (sponsored by Village Books, Food Pavilion/Cost Cutter, and Here's How Marketing & Research) to any participating business in the campaign. Sara choose Vis Seafood and Marti chose Dream on Futon.  The grand prize for the Buy Local Hero was a month of dining out at locally owned restaurants - gift certificates were contributed by: Boundary Bay, Cafe Akroteri, Calumet, Colophon Cafe, Coppa Mediterranean Bistro, Diego's, Du Jour Bistro, Harborside Bistro, La Fiamma Wood Fired Pizza, Mallard Ice Cream/Moka Joe's, Marina Restaurant, Pastazza, Pizazza, Swan Cafe, and a free loaf every month from Avenue Bread.