New And Improved Buy Lakewood Program To Begin February 24

In early 2012, Mayor Summers announced the launch of the redesigned Buy Lakewood program. This program is a consumer education initiative about the importance of buying locally as well as a customer loyalty program. It has been redesigned to make it simple, functional and flexible.

Buy Lakewood 2012 will feature a program called Five Percent Fridays. Participating businesses will offer a 5% discount on Fridays to individuals who show their Buy Lakewood card. In addition to Five Percent Fridays, businesses may choose to offer additional discounts to Buy Lakewood participants. The program will begin on Friday, February 24, 2012.

“We have simplified the Buy Lakewood Program to make it easier for both businesses and consumers to participate,” stated Mayor Mike Summers. “The Buy Lakewood Program will focus on sharing information on the importance of buying locally and the economic impact it has on our city. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 stays in the local economy, creating jobs and expanding the city’s tax base.”

Lakewood businesses can sign up to participate in this program by visiting www.onelakewood.com/buylakewood. Once a business is enrolled, they will be added to the online business directory. Businesses will also receive a window cling displaying their support for the Buy Lakewood Loyalty Program.

Anyone who shops in Lakewood can pick up a Buy Lakewood card at Lakewood City Hall (12650 Detroit Avenue), LakewoodAlive (14701 Detroit Avenue #LL10) or the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce (16017 Detroit Avenue). Individuals can also sign up for a card by visiting www.onelakewood.com/buylakewood. If you already have a Buy Lakewood card, it is still valid and you can use it for Five Percent Fridays.

The Buy Lakewood Program is a joint partnership between the City of Lakewood, LakewoodAlive, the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and the Madison Avenue Merchants Association (MAMA).

Why buy Local?

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.
• Residents 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.
• Get better service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers.
• Encourage local prosperity: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.
• 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.