Parade, Discounts, Small Business Saturday and More!

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Annual Holiday Shopping Guide

For the sixth year in a row, we want to focus on showing consumers that it’s easier than they think to do their holiday shopping at locally owned businesses. We’re putting together our 6th guide with listings, gift ideas, and tips on buying locally.  We will have a page on our website dedicated to holiday shopping and will update the page with specials, sales, and other info throughout the holiday season.

What we need from you is to think over some of the questions below and what items fit and then send us a JPEG (photo) of your best items. There is no minimum and no maximum as to how many photos you send. We will share the photos and short descriptions on our social media channels and website.
 

What items do you sell that are exclusive to your store that would make a great gift?  What items do you sell that people might not know about?  What are some hot items in the market that consumers would buy online or big box, but you actually sell them in your store?

We will begin to compile the database and start posting as the holiday nears. Feel free to send in items all the way up until the week before Dec. 25th so we can update with great local finds: info@cshoplocalraleigh1.wpapps.dev

Small Business Saturday

Shop Local Raleigh will be promoting Small Business Saturday via the WRAL Raleigh Christmas parade presented by Shop Local Raleigh on November 21, 2015.  Shop Local Raleigh will also incorporate our #WheresWalter campaign on Small Business Saturday. Where’s Walter will ask consumers to go to local businesses and find the Sir Walter statue and tag the store where they found him. The contest is done annually in an effort to highlight local businesses, local Raleigh history and get consumers engaged in our community. 

A Small Business Saturday is looking to have a representative in the Raleigh area on November 28. The rep has requested for us to send them a list of what YOU are doing in conjunction with Small Business Saturday so that we can share with National and Local media outlets in an effort to highlight this area. 

Please let me know ASAP if you’re running a special, having free punch, putting out cookies, rolling out the red carpet, offering a special, whatever it may be…. Let us know so we can help promote it! 

Remember, your business does NOT have to accept AMEX to be a part of this one-day-National promotion for consumers to get out and Shop Small. However, consumers that do have a AMEX card, are eligible to register their card and when they Shop Small, they have an opportunity to get a $10 credit on their AMEX statement the next billing cycle for shopping with you. 

So let’s all rally together and do what we can to help promote each other and small businesses on this one day event.

FREE Materials for Small Business Saturday: Order your free kit and materials ASAP.

ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Nov 28 marks the sixth annual Small Business Saturday, a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small Business Saturday was created in 2010 in response to small business owners’ most pressing need: more customers. To date, more than 3.3 million Facebook users “liked” the Small Business Saturday page2. Just last year, 370+ advocacy organizations, 160+ corporations, and elected officials in all 50 states and Washington D.C. declared their support for Small Business Saturday.

WRAL-TV Invites you to participate with them on
Coats for the Children

For 27 years, WRAL-TV has presented its signature Coats for the Children campaign benefiting area Salvation Armies. The goal of this holiday community service project is to encourage donations of gently used coats and new toys for Salvation Army families in need. 

WRAL-TV also broadcasts a daylong telethon to raise money to help Salvation Army families buy new winter clothing. In 2014, WRAL’s Coats for the Children Telethon collected over 5,000 coats, 750 toys and raised over $108,000 to buy new, warm winter clothing for children in need. 

This year’s Coats Telethon will be held Friday, December 11th from 6am-7:30pm. WRAL will talk about the Telethon throughout the day during newscasts and other programming, as well as live half-hour specials at 1pm and 7pm.

 
WRAL-TV is inviting your business to join the #1 TV station and website to help make the holiday season warmer and brighter for Salvation Army families!

• Donate $2,000 – Make a live check presentation during WRAL’s Coats Telethon on Dec. 11th, including an interview with a WRAL anchor to explain why your company supports Coats for the Children! PLUS receive a listing on WRAL.com’s Coats for the Children donation page.
• Donate $5,000 – Receive all of the above plus 2 Facebook mentions, tagging your business on WRAL’s Facebook page, leveraging WRAL’s 248,000 fans to your Facebook page during the Coats Telethon!
• Donate $10,000 Receive all of the above plus audio/video mentions on WRAL’s 30-second  Coats ‘Thank You’ promo to air during January 2016 on WRAL-TV.

Percentage of Sales Fundraising Event

• Your “% of sales event” occurs prior to WRAL’s Coats for the Children Telethon on Dec. 11th.
• WRAL will promote your company’s special event utilizing WRAL-TV’s Facebook page with 272,127 followers and 155,000 Twitter followers! *If your company is a natural fit with one of our niche brands, such as WRAL.com’s Out & About page or Go Ask Mom, we will also promote your event on those special pages, as described above.
• WRAL-TV will design a ‘big check’ with your company’s logo and the donation amount from your % of sales event. Then, you can present your check live during WRAL’s Telethon, including an interview with a WRAL anchor to explain why your company supports Coats for the Children.

WRAL’s Coats for the Children Telethon Reaches Your Customers on WRAL-TV & WRAL.com

In 2014, over 50,000 households tuned in to watch and donate during the two live, half-hour Coats for the Children specials. Also, the daylong live cut-ins in WRAL News were heavily viewed. On average, over 90,000 households tuned in from 6-7am. WRAL’s early news block from 5-6:30p averaged over 100,000 households.

Coats for the Children is also promoted heavily on WRAL.com. In December 2014, WRAL.com averaged 2.4 million page views and 133,000 unique visitors per day!

To participate or for more information, contact Phyllis Parish directly.

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Artsplosure introduces an app for First Night
Opportunity to get your business on it.
 

Artsplosure is introducing an expanded app for pass-purchasing attendees of First Night Raleigh, the New Year’s celebration that takes place in downtown Raleigh along Fayetteville St. from 2pm-12am. 

Artsplosure wants to try and see if they can help promote you on their app.

The celebration brings tens of thousands to the downtown area each year. They are working to enrich visitors’ experience by including local deals on the First Night Raleigh app to add value from the local business community and direct more visitors to go local! 

Any Wake County business is eligible to participate in this offer by offering a deal. If you are interested in submitting a First Night Raleigh deal, email Artsplosure’s CeCe Purnsley, with a title for the incentive (e.g., 5% off all in-stock items or Free Appetizer with Entrée) and a photo or permission to use a photo from your website. There is no cost to you to have your offer added on the app.

Recruit New Members & Get Yours for Free*

Here’s an opportunity for you to renew your SLR/GRMA membership at no cost to you!

To help you spread the good news about GRMA/SLR and say thank you for your referrals, we are offering your business a $20 credit towards your annual renewal for every new member you help register!

Requirements:

• Any member that recruits a new member, will receive $20, per new member recruited, off of the 2016 membership renewal
• Only one renewal incentive per year, per member (up to $250)
• No rebate or any other cash payment will be provided
• When referring a new member, have them enter in your business name on the online application so that we can give proper credit
• New applicant will designate which member lead them to sign up for GRMA/SLR
• Only one business will receive credit per each new member

Help us help our community in growing the Buy Local Movement!!