Local Buying a Push by Plainview Chamber of Commerce
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: February 21, 2013
In a push over the last year, the Plainview Chamber of Commerce has been trying to keep business in the city.
The goal is not to necessarily discourage people from shopping out of the city, but instead get them to first think of small, locally owned places in Plainview to shop before heading out of town.
"We are doing anything and everything we can to bring business in and keep it in Plainview," said Laura Kelley, who owns Cowgirl Cottage in Plainview.
"I want to keep the businesses here, so we don't have to travel if we don't have to, so I don't want to see anyone close," Kelley said. "I think everybody is upbeat and we're all feeling it may just be a little bump in the road, but we're gonna make it."
One innovative way they are drumming up business is through a "Cash Mob" where people will meet at the Chamber of Commerce once a quarter, then go to a local store and spend at least $10 at that business.
"We just mob a place and do an influx of business in one of our local establishments," said Linda Morris, the Executive Director at the Chamber.
Those who attend do not know where they are going until they show up for the Cash Mob. The idea is to introduce people in the city to shops they may have never been to before, and possibly bring that establishment new business.
Morris said she's been impressed with the city's reaction since Cargill's closing, and feels they are very positive in turning the situation around.
"The plant went idle, but we're not going to, Plainview is not going to be idle," Morris said.
Morris says they're spending $3,500 on the advertising some of which had been funded by Atmos Energy.
The goal is not to necessarily discourage people from shopping out of the city, but instead get them to first think of small, locally owned places in Plainview to shop before heading out of town.
"We are doing anything and everything we can to bring business in and keep it in Plainview," said Laura Kelley, who owns Cowgirl Cottage in Plainview.
"I want to keep the businesses here, so we don't have to travel if we don't have to, so I don't want to see anyone close," Kelley said. "I think everybody is upbeat and we're all feeling it may just be a little bump in the road, but we're gonna make it."
One innovative way they are drumming up business is through a "Cash Mob" where people will meet at the Chamber of Commerce once a quarter, then go to a local store and spend at least $10 at that business.
"We just mob a place and do an influx of business in one of our local establishments," said Linda Morris, the Executive Director at the Chamber.
Those who attend do not know where they are going until they show up for the Cash Mob. The idea is to introduce people in the city to shops they may have never been to before, and possibly bring that establishment new business.
Morris said she's been impressed with the city's reaction since Cargill's closing, and feels they are very positive in turning the situation around.
"The plant went idle, but we're not going to, Plainview is not going to be idle," Morris said.
Morris says they're spending $3,500 on the advertising some of which had been funded by Atmos Energy.
