merchants need their patronage

By

JOAN GANDY

The Natchez Democrat

Encouraging hometown shopping is the aim of an ambitious program taking shape in coming weeks.

&uot;Be loyal; buy local&uot; decals will begin appearing in store windows, and shoppers can look for attractive incentives to remind them of the importance of keeping their dollars turning in their own economies, said Tammi Mullins, director of the Natchez Downtown Development Association.

Chambers of commerce in Natchez, Vidalia, La., and Ferriday, La., are joining the DDA in the promotion, Mullins said. &uot;This is the second year we’ve tried this. We’ve changed it up a bit but the objective is the same &045; buying local.&uot;

Volunteers soon will begin calling on businesses, going door to door to get their support for the program. &uot;Last year we asked businesses to pay $20 or $40 to take part in the program and to give us door prizes,&uot; Mullins said. &uot;This year there is not a fee but we will ask for door prizes valued at $20 or more.&uot;

How does it work?

Merchants will have small cards to distribute among customers. Each card will have 20 spaces that can be stamped when a purchase of more than $20 is made at any participating store.

The shopper will return the completely filled card to any participating merchant to be included in quarterly door prizes.

Keeping as many dollars in the local economy has become more important than ever, Mullins said.

Sales taxes are vital to city governments. In the case of Natchez, sales taxes make up 43 percent of the operating budget.

Laura Godfrey, Natchez-Adams County Chamber CEO, agreed. &uot;We’re just doing everything we can do to make a difference,&uot; she said. &uot;With the entire downturn in the economy, we have to push to keep that local money here.&uot;

Nancy Kimbrell of Kimbrell Office Supply Company said her father-in-law, who founded the business, was adamant about shopping locally. &uot;He used to say if you couldn’t get it in Natchez, you didn’t need it.&uot;

Kimbrell, who operates the store with her husband, Scott Kimbrell, said local support is vitally important to merchants. Shoppers have an advantage, also, she said.

&uot;We say to our local customers, at least give us a chance,&uot; she said. &uot;I had one customer who had found what she wanted out of town and came to us to see whether we could get it. We could and we did. That makes you feel wonderful to know your hometown people will support you.&uot;

Many merchants echoed the sentiment that the shopper should try a local store before assuming the item is available only in a larger city.

Further, Kimbrell said, with hometown businesses, &uot;you can go to someone you know and say, ‘this is broken; what can you do about it.’&uot;

Virginia Netterville of Netterville Jewelry said she likes the tourist dollars that come into her Main Street store.

&uot;But my primary business is from hometown people. That is what keeps me alive.&uot;

Netterville said she tries to buy locally herself and believes any merchant who expects hometown friends and neighbors to buy from him should do the same.

&uot;Local people might be surprised at how competitive we are; and when they need service, they know we’re here.&uot;

Mary Lees Wilson has focused on customer service at her shop, One of a Kind. &uot;Customer service is big with us. We keep our local clientele by giving free gift wrap, for example,&uot; she said.

What’s more, she has a built a loyal following of young mothers who know they can call to have someone at One of a Kind select a birthday present, wrap it and deliver it to the curb. &uot;Local people won’t find that at the out-of-town stores,&uot; Wilson said.

Godfrey said she could understand going out of town for something that absolutely is not available in Natchez &045; a particular brand, for example.

&uot;But what kills us is when someone goes out of town for one thing and then ends up buying four or five other things that are available locally. We say to give Natchez a chance.&uot;