Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 13 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
New shop-at-home slogan unveiled
Published Saturday, November 21, 2009
Photo by Jena Passut
Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Teresa Beale (from left), Marguerite Leathers, Pam Vaughan and Steve Stewart unveil the new shop-at-home slogan at the Business Expo.
FRANKLIN—Courtland resident Marguerite Leathers is doing her part to stimulate the local economy.
Leathers won the Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce’s shop-at-home slogan contest with “Put your money where your home is.”
The winning phrase was revealed at Thursday night’s Business Expo at the Paul D. Camp Workforce Development Center.
Leathers said she heard about the contest and decided to mull it over.
“I thought, ‘That’s a neat idea. I’m going to try for it,’” she said. “It’s important — especially with International Paper closing the mill — that we shop at home.”
Leathers won a $250 community card for her slogan, which will be used in marketing the business community, said Teresa Beale, the Chamber’s executive director.
“It’s going to be our mantra,” she said. “A lot of the merchants will probably adopt it, too.”
More than 500 people visited the 50-plus vendors at the Expo.
“It was a fun time for everyone,” said Chamber President Clyde Parker. “There was a lot of interaction between the participants. It was an upbeat situation given the times we’re in. People seemed to want to kind of rally together and, as we always do at the Chamber, we’re trying to encourage businesses to do business with their neighbors.
“I heard a lot of very favorable comments from everyone.”
Beale said the steady crowd had vendors enthused.
“Folks were there early waiting to get in,” she said. “Vendors were very excited about the large turnout.”
Southern Charm Garden Center won kudos for best decorated booth, she added.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
Posted by bunita1946 (anonymous) on November 21, 2009 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The greatest boost to hometown businesses, would be to insist that their employees greet and serve their employees customers in a friendly and businesslike fashion. Too many times, a local business has lost my return patronage, simply because their employee(s) were either rude or they exhibited a total disdane for the customer. Slogans are fine, but it's the service that makes one want to return.
Posted by MyHometown (anonymous) on November 22, 2009 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
bunita1946. You are correct but it is not just locally. I have often gone in and really needed something and then refused to buy it because the store employees didn't seem to care if they sold anything. ACE Hardware in Franklin and Grayson and Emma's in Courtland are models for customer service. They always have employees up front to assist you but there is no pressure to buy.
Posted by Isaiah16_11 (anonymous) on November 22, 2009 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with the Grayson and Emma's comment. They are always so helpful and nice there. Very cheerful.
As far as ACE goes.....not so much...They must know you there.
We must support local businesses now more than ever. Our businesses and government must make a special effort to also support each other by buying locally, not just us consumers. Look for businesses or the city receiving supplies from out of town; if you think they can get those things locally, then say something to them. You never know what a simple friendly suggestion might accomplish.
Posted by bunita1946 (anonymous) on November 22, 2009 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I totally agree with MyHomeTown, I have alway received service, that seems to be sincerely appreciated at both stores. Lowes is not bad, but with the latest economic downturn and the dearth of customers, they seem to have adopted a defeatist attitude. When I was in school, one of my tution sources was a part time job at ole W.T. Grants. They were insistent on customer oirinated service. I guess the schools in their business courses, feels it demeans the sales clerk (associate). Slogans are fine when backed up with a sincere desire by the business to survive and prosper.
Posted by shadow03 (anonymous) on November 22, 2009 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with bunita1946. I do not like to go to a store, whether it is local or not local, and be totally ignored. I walked in to the garden center (side entrance) of Wal-mart one day and there were 5 employees standing by the door talking to each other. Not one single employee greeted me, and I would assume that one of the employees was supposed to be the greeter. If your job is to be a greeter, then GREET customers when they enter the store and say something when they leave the store. After all, if it were not for customers, they would not have a job! A little common courtesy goes a long way. I have almost given up on the cashiers in Wal-mart. Every once in a while, one will speak to me, but that rarely happens, and yes, I have called and spoke to one of the managers. Wal-mart is not the only business. I ordered food from Pizza Hut and went to pick it up. It was not ready when they said it was ready, and I waited another 15 minutes. When the woman, who was one of the managers, came to bring my food out to the car, all she said was, "Here you go." She did not even apologize for me having to wait. I could name several more businesses. If these businesses, especially local businesses, want customers to return, then practice common courtesy! I would gladly come back to shop at a store where the employees are friendly and seem to like their job.
Posted by pops5219 (anonymous) on November 22, 2009 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you MY Hometown when you go in ACE HARDWARE there is always someone there to greet you and ask if you need help finding something.Keep up the good work ACE.
Posted by m992fs (anonymous) on November 24, 2009 at 6:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Most people we support dont support us . We spend money with them and most spend their money on there beach homes and lake homes. They should try to spend their money local.....................Dont put the blame on us
Posted by chuck (anonymous) on November 24, 2009 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've been in the Franklin Lowes twice since it opened, looking for something that Farmers Produce (Ace) and Dails (True Value) didn't have at the time. Couldn't find it on either trip, and the clerks weren't very helful at all. I went back to Dails and talked to Steve -- he said he'd order it and have it within the week. He was true to his word.
The folks at Ace will greet you at the door and take you right to the item you want.
Guess where I do all my hardware store shopping now...?
Posted by Rocko (anonymous) on November 24, 2009 at 7:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lowes, Ace and Dails is a good debate. The service at all 3 depends on WHO is working the shift. All 3 places have a hand full of employees with GREAT service and in the other hand have the LAZY service. Service or not I know what I need and the price is the issue. 2 places have a item for $10 and the last one has it for $7. Its about the money!! Why spend at home when you can get the same service online or out of town?
Wal Mart's customer service is NO count!! Especially when the manager on duty tells you to call another Wal Mart to see about a items release date and she follows up with "If they got it so do we!" 3 hours before the Video Games of the year is to be released at 12:00am. What a joke with their 3 checkout lines out of 20 are open especially at the first of the month!! NO THANKS!!
Posted by Isaiah16_11 (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 7:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The added benefit of shopping locally is the sales tax contribution will stay local and help pay for police/fire/rescue/etc.
Posted by Rocko (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 9:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Isaiah16_11 - Why help pay for the police and so on if they WONT help IP workers find jobs? The police just held interviews and test for people that applied to become a police officers. Out of all the applicants the top 2 were mill workers and they were not hired? Everyone that got the jobs were from out of town or state. So how is the City of Franklin trying to help the local people?
Posted by Isaiah16_11 (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 10:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are right Rocko. Why give your money to the Franklin Police or Fire or Rescue. Spend it here in Southampton. We can use it. What were the Mill workers' scores? The out-of-towner's scores? You seem to be very much in the "know".
Posted by Rocko (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Isaiah16_11 - I am not name names or scores but lets just say they were the highest seen in the FPD interviewing process in a long time. And I agree take the tax money somewhere where the cities and counties appreciate it and use it for the good.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)