Certifichecks Make Great Gifts

Diane Helbig · Post by **Diane Helbig** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:11 pm

I just put my order in for Lakewood Certifichecks. How about the rest of you? They'll be available at Light Up Lakewood on the 30th. Or you can have them mailed to your house.

What a great gift idea - and it promotes shopping in Lakewood!

Mary Anne Crampton · Post by **Mary Anne Crampton** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:22 pm

Thanks for the plug and the order, Diane!

Order forms are going home in back pack mail, and can be found on the www.lakewoodalive.com website. An order form will also be printed in the special Light Up Lakewood pull-out guide tomorrow's edition of The Lakewood Observer.

We have been aware of a demand for a "shop local" promotion for years. Its finally here! LakewoodAlive and Main Street Lakewood have joined forces to underwrite this campaign so that neither businesses or purchasers of the certificates incur any fees. The certificates are redeemable at full face value, and can be deposited by participating Lakewood businesses like a cashier's check.

Local businesses produce more income, jobs and tax receipts. They are more likely to utilize local advertising, banking and other professional services such as those offered by accountants, attorneys and insurance agents. Supporting local businesses preserves our economic diversity and the unique character of our environment. Finally, supporting local businesess is good for the environment becuase it cuts down on fuel consumption. Buying locally produced goods reduces the need to ship goods from thousnads of miles away and cuts down on the distances shoppers travel.

Buy local. Spend it here. Keep it here.

jennifer scott · Post by **jennifer scott** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:23 pm

Hi Diane, Could you please explain what these are? I have never heard of them. Thanks, Jennifer

Mary Anne Crampton · Post by **Mary Anne Crampton** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:31 pm

Jennifer......these are gift certificates that are redeemable only at participating Lakewood businesses. Main Street Lakewood and LakewoodAlive are selling them. No fees. We are underwriting administrative costs. Look for list of participating businesses, background info and an order form in tomorrow's Observer (pull out section)...or go to the LakewoodAlive website:
www.lakewoodalive.com its all there.

These have been successfully used to promote local shopping on Cleveland Hts for about 4 years, and in communities all over the US.

Donald Farris · Post by **Donald Farris** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:03 am

Hi,

"We have been aware of a demand for a "shop local" promotion for years. Its finally here!"

Please, play nice. MAMA had a huge Art Walk just recently. That was a very successful "shop local" promotion.

How can you be working to promote Lakewood but be so fiercely competing with others working to the same goal?

I know you and many others truly care about Lakewood. Lets all try to focus our energy to that goal.

There is no single answer for making Lakewood the best possible. We must all work together, as a team.

Diane Helbig · Post by **Diane Helbig** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:00 am

Wow, Don, I didn't hear anything disparaging to the MAMA walk in Mary Ann's comments. All of these initiatives are good. Do they really need to be competing with each other? Does she not have the right to promote her event?

It appears to me that the Certifichecks idea is being promoted around shopping Lakewood during the holidays and beyond. To me it looks like a different take on the same idea.

And all these ideas are good. I'm not sure why they each can't stand on their own (or everyone work together) for the good of the city. Blasting someone doesn't help that effort, IMHO.

ANd just for the record, I attended the Art Walk with my son, loved every minute of it, and posted here about it that night.

Anything that promotes doing business in Lakewood is good for Lakewood. Fighting isn't. I submit to you that there may have been a more constructive way to get your point across.

Donald Farris · Post by **Donald Farris** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:05 am

Hi,
Ms. Helbig, you and I are in total agreement, as I stated in my post, we need to work together. I did read something disparaging in the highlighted comment Ms. Crampton made.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:35 am

Donald Farris wrote:Hi,
Ms. Helbig, you and I are in total agreement, as I stated in my post, we need to work together. I did read something disparaging in the highlighted comment Ms. Crampton made.

Don

Mary Anne has reached out to MAMA, and just the other day asked me about DADA, and where it is at. Lakewood is a small town and I agree that we must work together. Mary Anne also believes this. One reason the Observer stands behind her work at Mainstreet.

However many of these programs cost money, or not working in all ways. MAMA and DADA have been formed to fill the massive hole left by the Chamber of Commerce. They go out and search for new businesses then help them find good rental space, and get financing and discounts to make their business a success.

Now they are reaching out to home based businesses, and entrepreneurs, where they can give real guidance in everything from starting to venture capital, to insurance and support. This is done without city money, as is Lakewoodcentric.

It is not that the Chamber is bad, they just have a different business model. Membership fees, then asking members to pay for lunch or breakfasts to exchange business cards. All of this is free at MAMA and DADA, social networking is something being built into the new Observer project as this is one of the most exciting parts of LO's Economic Development program.

As far as ideas, I have to admit it would be nice to see and exciting things going on, not the same dished up, but success is often copied, and should not be attacked. If MAMA and DADA and the completely out fo the box LIA comes forward with good ideas, then others should try them or join them.

While Mary Anne speaks of Heights, who is now copying Lakewood right now, had success with Certificates, it is more like Community Currency light, and will highlight the positives from another idea out of the VAL. Again who cares who launches it, now we must work to make it succeed.

This year we will be giving Certifichecks at Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and ODA events and get togethers.

FWIW

.

Mary Anne Crampton · Post by **Mary Anne Crampton** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 6:14 pm

The special Light Up Lakewood pull out guide in this week's Observer will reflect the breadth and depth of the community-wide CertifiChecks effort carried out by myself and a cadre of invaluable volunteer Lakewood residents. An order form and a list-to-date of participating businesses is included.

Mary Anne

Dee Krupp · Post by **Dee Krupp** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:17 am

Mary Anne Crampton wrote:The special Light Up Lakewood pull out guide in this week's Observer will reflect the breadth and depth of the community-wide CertifiChecks effort carried out by myself and a cadre of invaluable volunteer Lakewood residents. An order form and a list-to-date of participating businesses is included.

Mary Anne

Are there any businesses that flat out refused to accept them..and what would be their reasoning?

Mary Anne Crampton · Post by **Mary Anne Crampton** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:10 pm

Before I answer Dee's question, I want to mention that a few businesses were inadvertently missed in the Light Up Lakewood Observer list: The Souper Market, Dave's Cosmic Subs, Roman Fountain Pizza and The Coffee Pot. I had a couple phone calls today from other businesses that want to participate and as they come and go, we will do our best to keep track.

The list will be updated ASAP on the LakewoodAlive website www.lakewoodalive.com, and every purchase of gift certificates will be include an up-to-date list of participating merchants.

Also, Maddy Lucarelli counseled me to be prepared for local business staff that have not be trained to accept the certificates. For that reason, the gift certificates will also include the toll-free "877" number to call for information and my contact information. We realize that there is some risk of confusion in this whole process, but we are confident that the good will of the community and Lakewood businesses will ultimately overcome any glitches.

Now to answer Dee's question. The first to opt out was Hixson's! They keep a very limited amount of cash on hand and are worried that someone will come in with a $25 gift certificate and buy $2 worth of candy. I explained that we plan to fill the vast majority of requests with $5 and $10 denominations, but they still declined. I was disappointed because this is exactly the type of business this program is intended to support.

DOTS and Pet Supplies Plus both had corporate offices that declined. They are concerned about counterfeiting. I contacted Future Heights and CertifiChecks corporate to find that neither organization has ever had trouble with that issue. Local business owners I talked to all know to look for counterfeit $20 bills, so they did not think this was a major issue. The gift certificates have a number of security features, one of which is orange writing on the back that turns yellow when the heat of your hand/fingers comes in contact with it.

Reagle Beagle and Best Cuts both declined without explanation. Our volunteers also came back with a few other businesses that "opted out" but I didn't get their stories. It is not our intention to talk anybody into participating. And in some cases, I know we didn't get the chance to explain anything - we just dropped off packets of info. Merchants can change their mind one way or the other at any time.

I have to say that the vast majority of businesses we spoke with are very happy about this program and the prospect of additional support from the community. We will do our best to keep track of comings and goings and keep the list updated.

Justine Cooper · Post by **Justine Cooper** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:41 am

As a Mama volunteer I appreciate whole heartedly your support Don!!! I will say though, that I was invited, as well as other Mama members to meetings regarding the Certifichecks and I did try to bring awareness to Madison Ave. businesses about these. I think it is an excellent way to promote shopping in Lakewood and while many agreed to try this, a few did not. The reasons were similar, like worrying about making change, etc. and maybe a fear of the unknown. I suspect next year every business will be on board. It is difficult to reach every business so those who read the site and attend meetings were more informed on Madison.

Mary Anne has done an excellent job trying to get people to shop locally and I am thrilled that Madison Ave. was finally invited to participate in something within the city! I think this is the first! And with all the viable businesses, it sure can't be the last! Mama is hosing a Holiday Hop and Twelve Shops of Christmas contest for a cash prize on December 1st, following Light Up Lakewood! More information coming www.mamaanddada.com

I encourage anyone needing gifts for teachers, neighbors, family, friends, mailman, etc. to buy these certifichecks for local businesses AND to check out the Holiday Hop with unique holiday items, refreshments, open houses, two Santas and professional carolers!!! What a great way to follow up the magical Light Up Lakewood this year, planned to be the best so far and to encompass the "small town" holiday feeling!

Dee Krupp · Post by **Dee Krupp** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:41 am

Thank you for your response Mary Anne.

While the list of business that will be accepting these certificates appears quite large, it is a concern that just when you plan on using them, you walk into a business that won't accept them...or as you said have changed their mind about taking them.

But is still a positive promotion for Lakewood and I'm sure it will be quite successful.

Diane Helbig · Post by **Diane Helbig** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:28 pm

Talk about great service - I already got mine in the mail today! They look great and came with a list of a boatload of Lakewood businesses that have signed on!

Thanks Mary Anne!

Linda Summers · Post by **Linda Summers** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:34 am

Justine Cooper wrote:Mama is hosing a Holiday Hop and Twelve Shops of Christmas contest for a cash prize on December 1st, following Light Up Lakewood! More information coming www.mamaanddada.com

I encourage anyone needing gifts for teachers, neighbors, family, friends, mailman, etc. to buy these certifichecks for local businesses AND to check out the Holiday Hop with unique holiday items, refreshments, open houses, two Santas and professional carolers!!! What a great way to follow up the magical Light Up Lakewood this year, planned to be the best so far and to encompass the "small town" holiday feeling!

Speaking of the Holiday Hop & Twelve Shops of Christmas - I went to the website and it didn't give any specific information. I love taking my family to events like this and I haven't found any specific information on this event. I did see Santa will be on the West end of town but no specific site was listed and the West end of Madison is a big place.
Any information is appreciated.