A Citizen Marketing Campaign to Boost the Freeport, Maine Economy
If it wasn’t obvious before, it is clear from the comments and feedback I’m receiving about Future Freeport that this is a town divided on what it means to be economically successful. So I’ve been thinking about ideas and initiatives that can unify us.
One thing I think we can all agree on is supporting locally-owned businesses.
There is quite a lot of research on the economic impact of locally-owned businesses vs. chain stores. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance looked at this issue for Rockland and Belfast and found that for every $100 spent at a local business, $45 remained in the local economy. For chains, only $14 of $100 remained. Many other benefits are outlined in their excellent report, “10 Reasons Why Maine’s Homegrown Economy Matters”, (click here to download the pdf) which was partially funded by L.L. Bean.
Putting on my marketing hat, I’m of the opinion that Freeport’s unique mix of national retailers and locally-owned shops is one of the critical competitive differentiators that will assure our future success. I wrote about this in more detail in my Think Different post.
There is a vibrant Buy Local movement sweeping the country that is having a real impact. The Portland Buy Local campaign has catalyzed the Portland community around independent businesses. Owners I’ve spoken to report the impact has been tangible. They’ve shown that small shifts in the proportion of shopping dollars going to local businesses can have a big economic impact. Freeport may want to consider replicating what Portland and hundreds of other communities around the country have done by forming a Buy Local organization. But, in the meantime, I think there is a more efficient and less time-intensive way to make a strong impact.
In our community, the opportunity is greater than just Freeport residents doing more shopping at local Freeport stores. The real upside for us, I think, is in helping to guide the 3.5 million visitors coming here to spend more of their shopping dollars at local businesses. Everybody wants local advice. Where’s the best chowder? The best place to stay? Where can I get one-of-a-kind Maine-made crafts?
So this morning I created a Google Map called Local’s Guide to Freeport, Maine. On it, I’ve begun (just barely) to add a few of my favorite local businesses. I’ve also co-located this map on a permanent Local’s Guide page here on Future Freeport. Then, from the links on the map, I used Google’s review functionality to write reviews on two of them–click these links to see my reviews of the Bow Street Market and Buck’s Naked BBQ. (In Google, my identity is PT.)
Want to join this effort? Here’s what you can do:
1. Help me build the list of local businesses. Add your list here in comments or send them to me in email and I’ll add them to the map. (Alternatively, if you’d like to get more involved, let me know and I’ll add you to the map as a collaborator.) My working definition of a “locally-owned business” borrowed from Portland, is here.
2. Write some reviews. Anyone with a Google account can write reviews. It took 10 minutes to write those two. There are few marketing weapons as powerful as user-generated reviews and none that I can think of that have as much impact and authority as local people reviewing local businesses. It won’t take many people writing one review/day to make a big difference.
3. Spread the word about the Local’s Guide to Freeport, Maine. The more people who visit the map, link to it and bookmark it, the more likely it will rise to the top in search. If we can get this map to be more prominent in searches for “Freeport, Maine” the impact could be huge.
4. Share your ideas in the comments. I’ve only scratched the surface of all the cool things that can be done with Google Maps. If you have ideas, GIS or other skills and want to help, that would be great.
As ever, let me know what you think.
Links and Resources:
Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
American Independent Business Alliance
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Comments
Derosier’s is up. And I added a Google Review as well. Thanks.
Folks–please keep the suggestions coming. We’re just getting this started and I haven’t yet come across a definitive list of local Freeport businesses to work from. So I’m relying on you to help build this out.
We are a B&B in Freeport and the Captain has been in business for about 15 years. My wife and I have been the owners for two years. We are members of the community and we are willing to work with the people of Freeport in their lodging needs. We also work very well with the other lodging properties in town both B&B and hotels. So if there is a nee for lodging or special lodging give us a call
Charles,
Thanks. I’ve added Captain Briggs. If you or anyone else has a good list of the B&B’s that are locally owned, please send along and I’ll add them.
Also–to all local businesses, don’t hesitate to add your weblinks when you comment. It will only help your own search marketing efforts, which is at least in part why I’m doing the Local’s Guide to Freeport, ME project. I’ll edit out spam, but not legit links from legit local businesses.
PT
Here are a few more…Maine Wreath & Flower, 13 Bow Street, Freeport; Earrings & Company, 2 Mechanic Street, Freeport; Wildflower Florist Shop, 5 Depot Street, Freeport; Maine Optometry, 5 Depot Street, Freeport (also has a practice in Brunswick).
I’m not sure about the following but possibly also The Beadin’ Path, 15 Main Street, Freeport; Sherman’s Bookstore, 128 Main Street, Freeport; Pedro O’Hara’s, 175 Lower Main Street, Freeport. Sherman’s has several other stores “up the coast” and Freeport is Pedro’s second restaurant, the first in Brunswick. Jameson Tavern? China Rose? Cuddledown?
A number of these businesses also maintain a presence on the internet as well.
[...] post I wrote about strengthening locally-owned businesses in Freeport (A Citizen Marketing Campaign to Boost the Freeport, Maine Economy) clearly struck a chord with people. Lots of great public and private comments from business [...]
104 years (oldest business in town); 5 generations Freeport family owned, perhaps Derosier’s could make the list?