Shop Local 30 Data, Part 2, Day 2
Tuesday, December 11th, 2012 -- 11:28 AM
-We have more information on part 2 of the Shop Local 30 Data.The data has shown that when people left the Neillsville community for a specific purpose, they usually stopped and did some shopping while they were in a different community like Marshfield or Eau Claire. They also usually stopped at several different stores and businesses.
The data also found that, in some cases, the desire for a particular brand motivates people to shop elsewhere.
During the second week of the campaign, one Neillsville resident recorded an out-of-town trip with the primary reason being to purchase groceries. They noted, ?Certain items not available here - example - favorite yogurt. Picked up other items like toilet paper as long as I was there.? The total amount of the purchase was $78.25.
?One of the goals of the campaign was to open a channel of communication between residents and retailers,? said Deanna Heiman, Executive Director of the Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce, ?Local business owners pride themselves on customer service and in most cases will do everything they can to accommodate shoppers? requests.? Consumers can improve their local shopping experience just by asking simple questions such as , ?Can special items be ordered?? or ?Is bulk or case lot pricing available??
The NACC also saw a few surprises in the data that point to opportunities for growth within the city whether it?s expanding existing businesses or establishing new.
In the 30-day period of the Shop Local 30 campaign, participants spent over $770.00 on pet care. Of this total, 38% was spent on special pet food and over-the-counter medications available only from a veterinarian. The remaining purchases were food and supplies that could be found at any pet store. Please keep in mind, that this campaign represents only a small sampling of the entire Neillsville community.
Another retail gap identified was craft supplies, which amounted to over $310.00 of the total out-of-town purchases for the month. Almost the entire amount (98%) was spent strictly on fabric and yarn.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.