LIVINGSTON COUNTY — The Shop IN Livingston message was everywhere in Livingston County during the 2011 holiday season. The campaign that was executed as a partnership between the Livingston County Development Corporation, the Livingston County Board of Supervisors, and the Livingston County Area Chamber of Commerce contributed to a 7% increase in 4th quarter sales tax revenue for the County. Beyond the local economic benefits, the campaign rallied businesses and residents alike, creating county-wide excitement and pride.
“We invested in our local businesses by encouraging people to do their holiday shopping IN Livingston,” said James Merrick, Chairman of the Livingston County Board of Supervisors. “We had such a positive response that we are eager to continue investing in our communities by expanding the IN Livingston program.”
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With the support of the Livingston County Board of Supervisors, the Livingston County Area Chamber of Commerce has again partnered with the Livingston County Development Corporation to promote shopping local from September through December – with three distinct programs within the IN Livingston campaign.
The first program is a series of Shop IN Livingston Rolling Cash Mobs. A cash mob is a large group of people who shop at a small business during a given period of time. The rolling cash mob expands on this concept by bringing shoppers to a different shopping community in Livingston County on three Saturdays in September.
The cash mobs will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Geneseo on Sept. 15, Mt. Morris on Sept.22 and Dansville on Sept. 29. Shoppers will be greeted by Shop IN Livingston street teams during the cash mobs, who will give away “Shop on the Spot” prizes and stickers that say “I shopped IN Livingston today!”
“The Rolling Cash Mobs give residents and visitors a way to support their own community and explore the other communities within the County,” said Julie Marshall, Deputy Director
Livingston County Economic Development. “It’s a great opportunity to discover new shops and businesses they didn’t know were in their own backyard!”
“Mobsters” are encouraged to shop all the county’s communities along with the designated Cash Mob communities.
The second program changes the focus from shopping local to dining local. Residents will be challenged to Dine IN Livingston during the month of October. Each time someone dines at a participating restaurant during the month, they will receive 2 Dining Dollars good for a discount on a return visit to that restaurant. The more they dine out, the more Dollars they will earn. In addition, people are encouraged to visit the Find It In Livingston Facebook page to register to win a year of dining in Livingston County. The winner will be drawn at the end of October and will receive 12 dining gift certificates to 12 different restaurants in Livingston County.
“We’re very excited to be able to give our local eateries some extra special attention with the In Livingston campaign,” says Lisa Burns, Livingston County Tourism Director and IN LivINgston Project Architect. “We have so many wonderful and eclectic places to eat in Livingston County! We want people to realize you don’t have to drive to a metropolitan setting for great food.”
Again in 2012, the Shop IN Livingston holiday program will begin in November and run through December. The program will include weekly shopping spree giveaways. Shoppers can register online or at a participating merchant location. Merchant participation is expected to be even stronger this year.
Smiles abound at all levels – community. business and government – as a result of the IN Livingston campaign in 2011. Livingston County sales tax revenue marked an overall 11% growth year over year, which was the second highest increase in all of New York State. Much of this growth is attributed to the commitment of the Livingston County Board of Supervisors to helping local businesses grow. A portion of sale tax revenues is set aside each year to reinvest into the IN Livingston campaign, which spreads the buy local message.
For a list of participating merchants and restaurants visit www.finditinlivingston.com or www.facebook.com/finditinlivingston.