(Entertainment-NewsWire.com, July 12, 2012 ) Shelbyville, IL -- The Shop Shelbyville initiative was established with goals to enhance the year-round local shopping experience beyond the busy lake tourist season.
“One of the foremost goals of the MAPPING group was to create a thriving business environment in Shelbyville Illinois,” said committee member Tad Mayhall.”The Shop Shelbyville program was designed to increase retail sales in Shelbyville through Lake Shelbyville visitors and residents alike.”
Mayhall said “Shop Shelbyville” is important because consumers directly affect the quality of life in a community.
“Every time someone makes a local purchase it helps to improve the aspects that make Shelbyville such a wonderful place to live, work, play and visit,” he said. “When goods and services are purchased outside of our community the money goes and stays there.” Mayhall also noted that with high gas prices and higher sales taxes in other communities, consumers save money by shopping in Shelbyville, while adding money to boost the Downtown Shelbyville IL economy.
Committee member John Tynan said the program could make a measurable economic difference locally.” Currently there are more than 2,000 households in Shelbyville,” Tynan said. “If each household were to spend an extra $10 per week in Shelbyville, which might otherwise have been spent outside the community, more than $1 million in additional revenue would be generated in Shelbyville over the course of a year.”
As part of a 10 month effort working with Brian Tucker begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting, President of a local marketing firm SimplySell to implement a new extension to the program, a new community marketing website www.shelbyvilleillinois.net launched last week. This site also offers downloadable coupons and future discounts from Shelbyville merchants to those who visit the site and sign up for the mailing list.
“The goal is to incent our residents in town and entice our lake visitors to come and spend money in Shelbyville. Hundreds of people from all over have already joined the mailing list and downloaded the coupon book. It takes less than 30 seconds and once they join, they’ll get future updates to the coupon book sent to their email inbox automatically.” offered Brian Tucker begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
The Shop Shelbyville initiative aims to show the importance of shopping locally. Local purchases help to provide tax revenues necessary to provide municipal services, support public safety, increase employment opportunities, and support local merchants. In addition, shopping locally will provide tax revenue to help allow for infrastructure improvements, such as water and sewer system upgrades, structural and cosmetic improvements to downtown buildings, and improvements to our beautification projects. Also, buying local provides for a solid retail environment while promoting business opportunities within Shelbyville.
To enhance the campaign, the Shop Shelbyville Committee will provide area media with Business of the Week spotlights in the Shelbyville Daily Union. These features will focus on an area business and give owners the chance to say why they believe Shelbyville is a good place to do business.
“The goal of the spotlight will be to make the public aware of the types of businesses and services that are available locally. Other initiatives will be rolled out in the coming months,” said Mayhall. “We hope everyone will take the time to visit all the local merchants in Shelbyville to see the wonderful products and services they provide. You’ll be amazed at what we have to offer, right here.” said Tynan
Local merchants who wish to have their coupon added to the downloadable book can submit their offer via email to shelbyvilleworks@gmail.com. Deadline for entry is 5pm on July 20th, 2012.
About Shelbyville Works:
Shelbyville Works is a city council appointed group of community leaders, dedicated to economic development efforts and mapping the future of Shelbyville Illinois.
