With St. Patrick's Day coming up fast, everyone has luck on the brain. We can’t help but feel pretty lucky already though, after February's #28daysoflocal campaign. What started out simply as a goal to bring exposure to other local businesses after a hard year, ended up opening our own eyes to our community, and all of the hidden gems that surround us each day. We visited 28 different Winter Haven businesses and organizations, and were thankful to meet their owners, managers, and staff during our time taking photos and learning about what they offer. What are the three main things we took away from this experience?

It's vital that we learn to put down the keyboard, and PICK UP THE KEYS!

With online shopping growing exponentially during the COVID crisis, small businesses and local stores took a huge hit. Unfortunately, some of them didn't survive. It's our job to make sure that the ones who made it are able to keep their doors open, and not just survive, but thrIve. When it's time to shop for a birthday present, baby shower, or teacher gift, don't pick up your phone or jump on the computer. Take a little extra time to head downtown to a local shop where unique gifts, friendly staff, and your very own neighbors are waiting. Remember, Amazon won't be there to support your child's t-ball team or sponsor a local school event, but the shops and businesses of our own community care about you and the area we live in.

Local business owners are resilient.

This year could have turned into chaos for many local businesses, but the owners we met during our February visits took the opportunity to pivot and make the best of a new way of doing things. Restaurants who depended on in-person dining started offering takeout or delivery options. Shops and stores learned how to manage online shopping and delivery so they could still reach customers from home. Organizations brainstormed ways to continue to give back to the community and support those who depend on them in new (safe) ways. We were surprised by, and admire, all the ways our local businesses have adapted and overcome in the last year.

Winter Haven is full of hidden treasures!

From delicious lunches and crafted coffee, to fun stores full of unique and creative gifts, we discovered SO many businesses that we missed in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Taking time to really slow down and look at our city, and then make an effort to shop, eat, and live locally, opened our eyes to just how lucky we are to live here. This is a special area, and not only do the business owners care about the city, but they care about their customers and clients. We are thankful to have discovered these gems and look forward to visiting all of them many times over in the future.

Newton Peach Marketing is proud to serve Winter Haven businesses with social media and digital marketing services across all platforms. Our goal is to help owners reach their goals, and we work closely with them to reach their target audience, gain exposure in and around their local area, and grow both their reach and their profit. With packages of all size, and custom options available, there's a plan for every business that needs help. What can we do for you?

Valentine's Day is all about showing those around you how much you care. Giving gifts, acts of service, or a simple "I love you" to remind someone that they are important to you are all ways we share the love around this holiday. Have you thought about showing your favorite local businesses just how much you appreciate them, and care about their success in the community though? They might not be your first thought when Valentine's Day rolls around, but there are many ways you can show them some love and help boost their presence in the community not just on holidays, and EVERY day.

How?

Give them positive reviews. It's easy (and common) to leave a negative review. When we receive goods or services that are less than satisfactory, we want a sense of justice, and often, leaving a scathing review makes us feel somehow validated in our displeasure...and we totally understand that! After all, that's what reviews are for, right? They are the modern day "comments box" for businesses, and they give other potential customers insight into what they can expect from a particular business or brand. How often do you leave a positive review though? Taking those extra few minutes of your time to leave a review letting a business owner know how much you were impressed by their product, their service, or even their staff is a great way to show them some love, and send other customers their way.

Make them your first choice. How often do we say we like a local business, but the first time a shopping need comes up, whether for a gift, a home service, or simply something for your home, you jet off to the big box store down the street simply because it's convenient? Taking the extra time and effort to utilize local small businesses as your first shopping choice not only makes them feel loved, but makes them successful, and that benefits everyone in the community. Cities where businesses are growing and thriving have better economies, and higher employment rates. What's not to LOVE about that?

Refer your friends. Word of mouth is a key way to grow small, local businesses, and any marketing expert will tell businesses owners how vital it is to get people talking about their brand and name within the community. A business card, a social media post, or even a booth at a downtown fair or market are definitely key points in growing a business and brand, but even those who visit the booth, see the Facebook ad, or receive a business card might not follow through and become a patron unless a friend or family member can personally attest to the quality of the goods or services offered. That's where YOU come in. If you love a local business, tell people about it! Share their posts on Facebook and throw in a personal reference for your contacts. Did someone comment on that great piece of jewelry you're wearing from a local boutique, or ask you how you've landscaped your yard so beautifully for the upcoming spring season? It's ok to name drop! Spreading the names of small businesses will help them immensely, and will ensure that your treasured goods and services that they offer will be around for years to come.

Newton Peach Marketing is committed to making sure our local businesses in and around the Winter Haven area thrive and grow. By customizing plans for each individual client we ensure quality services at a price they can afford. When you put your business growth in our hands, you are given the freedom to pay only for what you need, and nothing more, unlike pre-determined packages with larger marketing firms. That means you're left with more money to invest back into your business, allowing you to continue to expand...and nothing makes us happier than seeing you succeed. Interested in what we can do for you? There's a simple two step process: give us a call, and tell us how you want to grow in 2019. We do the rest!