Buy Lakewood Program

[Bryan Schwegler]

http://www.onelakewood.com/News.aspx?NewsID=115

Recently, Lakewood Mayor Ed FitzGerald announced an initiative to create a program that would help stimulate Lakewood’s economy as well as create a healthy interaction between residents and merchants within the city. As a result, the Buy Lakewood! Loyalty Program will begin on June 1st. It is a free program offered to Lakewood businesses and Lakewood residents. It is dedicated to educating residents on the importance of buying locally and the economic impact it has on our city.

This program is one of the only programs in northeast Ohio that provides an opportunity for each Lakewood merchant to choose any type of discount they would like to offer card holding members. Merchants within the city limits will have the ability to go online and enroll their business at http://www.onelakewood.com. Once the business is enrolled, the city will add their business to an online directory showing their participation in the program. Business owners will receive a window cling displaying their support for the Buy Lakewood! Loyalty Program.

All Lakewood residents are encouraged to register at http://www.onelakewood.com to receive their card. Once their name, address, phone number, and an email address (if applicable) is entered, a card will be delivered to the resident’s house along with a letter of appreciation and further explanation of how buying locally helps improve our community in many ways. The Buy Lakewood! Program will provide residents immediate savings that will stay within the community.

Buying locally helps to improve our community in many ways:

• It keeps dollars in Lakewood’s Economy. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 stays in the local economy, creating jobs and expanding the city’s tax base.
• Likewise, this program embraces what makes Lakewood unique. Lakewood is a suburb where we shop, eat and entertain – it is what makes our neighborhood our home.
• Residents will also be able to have more choices. A marketplace of hundreds of small businesses helps to ensure more innovation, competition and lower prices over the long term. Local businesses choosing products based on what their local customers need and desire guarantee a more diverse range of product and service choices.
• Lastly, local businesses are the lifeblood of our community. When we keep our dollars in the city, every purchase contributes toward our schools, our culture and the well-being of our friends, relatives and neighbors.

The Buy Lakewood! Program has been implemented to support both the residents and merchants within the city. This program will provide citizens discounts at no additional charges while providing local merchants a boost in economic activity.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Finally


Suggested here 5 years ago by someone, maybe you?
(Community Currency would be even better)

Now maybe they can stop penalizing those of us that live and work here!


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[Bryan Schwegler]

I like this better than commnity currency. I hate having to deal with cash as it is and that would just make me have to carry around an even more limited-use version of cash. I think this rewards program is much more flexible.

It wil be interesting to see how this works as the one advantage of community currency would be that it conceivably would be available to more than just residents whereas this program is limited to residents only.

[Bill Call]

First, the idea has merit. Keeping dollars in Lakewood helps everyone who lives in Lakewood.

On second thought:

Over $60 million in school taxes and City taxes are paid by the people who live here and transfered to Avon and Avon Lake and other cities. A program that will retain $30,000 of that $60 million is probably a waste of time.

If you accept the premise that keeping dollars in Lakewood is good for Lakewood how can you accept the premise that transfering $60 million per year to other cities is good for Lakewood?

[Jim O'Bryan]

I like this better than commnity currency. I hate having to deal with cash as it is and that would just make me have to carry around an even more limited-use version of cash. I think this rewards program is much more flexible.

It wil be interesting to see how this works as the one advantage of community currency would be that it conceivably would be available to more than just residents whereas this program is limited to residents only.

This program if implemented correctly can make a huge difference. It depends just how
the thought has been placed, and what they will do with a program like this.

I wish the threads from the past were here right now! Damn, http://lakewoodobserver.com/deck search "currency and or incentives"

Community currency while much bolder is much stronger. It keeps a larger amount in the
city, brings in money from outside as you point out. Becomes a great incentive for schools,
police, city hall, etc, and a tremendous source of community pride.

Then there is the problem. Back when this was brought up through the VAL, the "Lakewood
Grinder" was to be based on silver. Which meant, those notes today would have been
worth 5.5 times what they were when issued, which might have caused hording. On the
flip side imagine everyone in the city with 5 times as much cash?

So how many businesses have signed on? All?

Is the city backing the discount?

Having four businesses in Lakewood, I cannot wait to hear more.

If you accept the premise that keeping dollars in Lakewood is good for Lakewood how can you accept the premise that transfering $60 million per year to other cities is good for Lakewood?

Like I said, let's see how well this program has been engineered, done correctly, huge.


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[David Anderson]

This is cool.

I read that stickers will be placed in the windows of participating merchants. However, I assume there will be an online list of participating merchants as well (hyperkinked to the merchant's Web site) and the discount percentage offered by each.

Many hunt rather than shop and use the Internet to find stuff online then go and buy it. And, if I want chocolate and see from an online list that Sweet Designs is offering the residential discount and Malley's isn't - or vice versa - this will not only help me decide where to buy chocolate but will also provide an incentive for more merchants to join.

I look forward to getting my card but the program will work for me only so much unless an online list is available.

[Bryan Schwegler]

David, the press release mentions that an online directory of participating merchants will be on the Lakewood website. I'm happy they're doing it because I completely agree with what you said.

[Brad Hutchison]

Registration on onelakewood.com isn't available until June 1? Or am I just not seeing it?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Hard to believe,

I just got an email from Lakewood Resident, and City Hall Employee.

Hi Jim-

Due to the overwhelming in the Buy Lakewood! Loyalty Program, we wanted to inform your group of the details of the program via our formal announcement. Attached is the announcement about our program. If you could please spend a few minutes to share this information with your group it would be greatly appreciated. With any questions please contact Holly Lauch at 216-529-6602 or email her at <mailto:holly.lauch@lakewoodoh.net>holly.lauch@lakewoodoh.net.

Thanks so much,
Michael Bowen

Must be some way otherwise how could it be overwhelming?




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[Brad Hutchison]

Hard to believe,

I just got an email from Lakewood Resident, and City Hall Employee.

[b]Hi Jim-

Due to the overwhelming in the Buy Lakewood! Loyalty Program, we wanted to inform your group of the details of the program via our formal announcement.
.

To be fair, I guess it doesn't really say how exactly it's overwhelming. It could be, "Due to the overwhelming lack of registrations..." or "Due to the overwhelming void of information on how to register..." or even "Due to the overwhelming evidence that we ask you to register at onelakewood.com when there is actually no way to register there..."

Not trying to poke fun, I just really would like to register. Seems like a good idea.

[Bryan Schwegler]

Registration on onelakewood.com isn't available until June 1? Or am I just not seeing it?

That's what I'm assuming since it says it begins June 1. Definitely could have been written more clearly.

[Jim O'Bryan]

The program has been talked about for over a month. I have heard that Holly met with members of MAMA and DADA. So maybe, the call in response was a little overwhelming for
Holly who is putting this together. Which could make sense as Holly is working part time
at the Mayor's Office.

When I was at the Beck she was running in to speak with Paul, and possibly Cindy Einhouse
about the program. Beck Center discounts could help get more in there.


FWIW

[Corey Rossen]

The program has been talked about for over a month. I have heard that Holly met with members of MAMA and DADA. So maybe, the call in response was a little overwhelming for
Holly who is putting this together. Which could make sense as Holly is working part time
at the Mayor's Office.

When I was at the Beck she was running in to speak with Paul, and possibly Cindy Einhouse
about the program. Beck Center discounts could help get more in there.


FWIW

I thought DADA wasn't "official" yet. If so, let me know. I'd definately be interested.

Corey

[Jim O'Bryan]

I thought DADA wasn't "official" yet. If so, let me know. I'd definately be interested.

Corey[/quote]

Corey

It is up and running, and working with many different groups before BIG ANNOUNCEMENT to
business owners. Want to make sure everything is correct and ready.

What is amazing is that the original "Lakewood Is Art" is back as well, working on their program
of putting public art into public spaces.

FWIW


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[Bryan Schwegler]

You can sign up now:

http://www.onelakewood.com/BuyLakewood/