With Christmas gift-buying under way, chamber urges area residents to 'ShopRome'

(Media release) Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Small Business Action Council Chair Keli Metcalf encourages the community

to shop locally during the holiday season as part of the Chamber's "ShopRomeSM" campaign to support local retail and

service providers.

 

Organized by the Council each year, ShopRomeSM is an ongoing effort to market Rome, Cave Spring, and Floyd County

businesses – especially Chamber members – to local and outlying communities through various media outlets such as

radio commercials, direct mailings, print advertisements, and electronic media.

 

"Shopping locally is the number one way to create and retain jobs, especially in a time when unemployment is so

prevalent in everyone's minds. We need to take every possible opportunity to seek products and services within our

own community," says Chairman of the Board of Directors Harry Brock, Appraisal Associates of Rome. "Spending dollars

on local products and services also helps us fulfill our ultimate goal, which is greater prosperity for our community.

 

The first and most critical step toward greater prosperity is to support the businesses that we already have in our own

community."

 

"To provide an extra measure of support for our local businesses, the Council chose last year to restructure

ShopRomeSM efforts by advertising the "shop local" message throughout the entire year – in addition to yearly

concentrated efforts during the holiday shopping season," adds Vice-Chair of the Business & Professional Division

Lamante Attaud, TENDO technologies. "The Council now implements advertising on an ongoing basis with three

accentuated advertising campaigns at strategic times of the year: a spring campaign, a "Back-to-School" campaign, and

a holiday season campaign." Current ShopRomeSM advertising will increase significantly during the holidays in order to

support local retailers and service providers at this critical time of year.

 

The recent "Business EXPO 2010" served as a kickoff for holiday ShopRomeSM campaign efforts. The Business EXPO

held each November is also an initiative of the Council that supports the ShopRomeSM campaign. "The recent Business

EXPO 2010 played an important role in supporting our local businesses. EXPO showcases many of the products and

services we have in our own community," says Business EXPO 2010 participant and Cave Spring business owner

Donna Staples, Country Cousins. "EXPO attendees are often surprised by the variety of products and services that our

community has to offer. You can find everything you need for the holidays, along with the services you need throughout

the year, right here in Floyd County."

 

Chairman Brock also emphasizes, "In addition to creating and retaining jobs, spending our money locally encourages

new businesses to locate in Rome and supports our tax base." According to a Georgia Outshopping study conducted by

University of Georgia Small Business Development Center in 2006, Floyd County represents approximately one third of

the total retail sales within the surrounding region. Brock adds, "It only takes a small increase in shopping locally to have

a significant impact on our small business retailers and service providers."

 

The Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce encourages everyone to "ShopRomeSM" for products and services during

the holiday season and throughout the entire year. Shopping in Floyd County supports the same local businesses that

invest in our community through their membership with the Chamber.

 

For more information on efforts to support our local economy and to find Chamber members with whom you can do

business, visit the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce website at www.romega.com