Participation Benefits

Think Local, Buy Local, Be Local Campaign

• New Seasonal marketing matrials including St Paddy's Day and Mother's Day themed posters.
• Monthly emailed 'Think Local Tip of the Month'.
• Promotion through a category listing and an optional promotional offer in a Independents Week Guide to 'Where the Locals Go!' inserted in local newspapers, at the Farmer's Market and local businesses.
• New posters and marketing materials delivered to your business for the annual 4th of July Independents Week.
• Participate in the 2nd Annual Bid Local First on-line fundraising auction.
• Participate in the 7th Annual Buy Local Week: Nov 30th - December 6th. Receive the NEW eye-catching and educational Campaign Poster, buy local stickers for customers and employees, suggestions and tips for in store activities; A Buy Local Week event at your business will be promoted by the campaign; Register to use the Prize Wheel and/or the Be Local Bee costume at your business during Buy Local Week; Pick up Buy Local balloons to decorate your location; Be included in the Winter Guide to 'Where the Locals Go!' inserted in our local newspapers... More!
• Your business will also benefit from ongoing campaign promotion and public service announcements in local radio, television, and newspapers, as well as from regular promotion of the logo through events and promotional items.

Additional opportunities:

• Purchase promotional products with the Buy Local logo to use as give-aways and for re-sale, including stickers, buttons, and bumper stickers.
• SC members receive a free coupon advertisement in the Think Local First coupon book ($90 regular price); Non-member participants receive a 50% discount. The most recent Think Local First coupon book sold more than 3000 copies, was the number one best selling book at Village Books, and many participants said it was the most cost effective, targeted advertising they have done.
• Work with the campaign designer and use the campaign artwork. Pay her hourly to customize unique materials for your business using your business name and logo and the Think Local First brand.
• Pay a small maintenance fee to borrow the Be Local Bee costume or Buy Local Prize Wheel - Have the bee pass out materials from your business; promote your business as local at an event.
• Use the Think Local First! logo to promote your business as loccally owned on your website, printed materials, signage, etc.

New to the campaign?

All of the benefits listed above are for renewing businesses. Brand new participating businesses pay just $25 more to receive a Business Marketing Kit, (free to Sustainable Connections members), which includes: A Window Poster, a Think Local First Window Decal, a Welcome Letter, a Top Ten Reasons to Think Local First, A Frequently Asked Questions sheet, A Tip Sheet for making the Campaign a success, the logo to use in your own ads, a set of book mark shaped and index card shaped 'thank you cards' for customers - each with a different factoid, a sample newsletter article, and a CD-Rom with monthly marketing materials, each of which features a holiday-inspired creative twist on the logo.