Freeholders Kick off ‘Shop, Dine, Go Local Saturday’ Campaign

August 16, 2012

NEWS

          For Immediate Release: August 16, 2012

Contact:  Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger (856-853-3395) or Freeholder Heather Simmons (856-853-3378)

 Freeholders Kick off ‘Shop, Dine, Go Local Saturday’ Campaign

Pledge to Shop Local over the next 14 weeks leading up to the ‘Big One’

(Woodbury, NJ) – Gloucester County Freeholder Director Robert Damminger and Freeholder Heather Simmons today announced a new initiative to promote local businesses over the next fourteen weeks leading up to the busiest shopping weekend of the year – Thanksgiving weekend.

 Freeholder Director Damminger said, “We have all heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but we all have the chance to lift up our local economy by shopping, dining and going local for services.  We are taking a pledge today that we will shop local, dine local and spend our dollars on local services to promote jobs, the economy, and keep our dollars in our community.”

 Damminger said that the 14-week campaign will promote local small businesses and ask residents to pledge to shop, dine and spend their money on local services on Saturday, November 24.  The program is a partnership with the County Department of Economic Development, the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce and small business owners and operators. 

 “The Monogram Shoppe is the perfect example of a small business that has been a mainstay of our local downtown for 20 years.  When we encourage our residents to shop local, this is what we are talking about; patronizing our small businesses who are our neighbors and who have a vested interest in the success of our community,” Director Damminger said.

 Freeholder Heather Simmons said, “By pledging to spend our hard-earned money in local shops and on local dining and services, we all can help to revitalize our downtowns and shopping districts.  Keeping it local will help to retain the quality, uniqueness and character of Gloucester County.”

 Freeholder Simmons, the liaison to the Department of Economic Development, stated that in Gloucester County over 5,000 local businesses are comprised of retail, service, general merchandise, professional services, restaurant, and repair services. 

She said that the Department of Economic Development will be hosting a Municipal Economic Committee meeting in early September to encourage local communities to adopt the Shop, Dine and Go Local pledge and that the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce would be working with their membership to offer specials and discounts on Saturdays leading up to November 24, 2012.

Monogram Shoppe Inc owners Dottie McQuaid and Dottie Lange said they had recently relocated their store from across the street but their commitment to a downtown was steadfast. 

 “We are thrilled to be part of this program and announcement.  We believe in being a part of the community and that the county’s promotion of Shop, Dine and Go Local Saturday will help build a momentum leading up to the holidays that will bring awareness to our customers of the importance small business plays in their lives,” said Dottie Lange.

 Residents can sign the Gloucester County Shop, Dine, Go Local pledge by visiting gloucestercountynj.gov or on at facebook.com/ShopGloucesterCounty.

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