Let’s face it, major international retailers sometimes come up with great marketing gimmicks. This coming week’s designated shopping holiday being widely advertised by one online corporation is a prime example of that. Call your sale something interesting, offer some discounted prices, promote it broadly across all types of media featuring big stars in your video ads, and watch the buyers flock to your site to spend money. You can do all that when you are a multi-billion-dollar company. But what about the small retailers? They don’t have those resources. Maybe they can generate a little buzz around some products or services with some social media video or with some well-placed local advertising. But they often operate on a slim margin to begin with and can’t discount merchandise the way larger organizations can. It’s tough to compete.

We encourage one and all to look locally first when you need or want to make a purchase. We have an array of specialty shops, boutiques, and small stores here in Chautauqua County that are owned and operated by local people. These people are our friends, family, and neighbors. Their kids go to school with our kids. They frequent the same restaurants we do. They go to local churches and support local charities. Importantly, our local businesses also contribute to the local tax base.

Small local businesses are not just vital to our economy, they truly make up a sense of place in our communities. Local shops and eateries are the places that stand out and make our towns, villages, and cities special. They create a unique environment for this place we call home, just as much as our amazing natural resources and the extraordinary variety of attractions here in our county. Think about this for a moment: do you brag about the great meal you enjoyed at a chain restaurant? Or are those bragging rights reserved for the locally owned place where you had a stellar dinner with friends? We bet it’s the latter. We love our favorite local places to eat! For many the same is true about local shopping experiences.

Whether you’re looking for your next great summer book to read, the perfect outfit for an upcoming event, home furnishings to refresh your space, a great gadget to improve your cooking or grilling experience, or a gift for anyone for any occasion, you can find it locally. And when you step into our great small local stores, you’ll not only find amazing items, but you’ll also find great service. When you’re buying from the owner or someone who’s part of a small staff, you’ll be treated like a friend and your business will be appreciated.

This coming week, and all year round for that matter, we urge you to ignore the hype and seek the harmony you’ll find when shopping locally. Support our small businesses, and then help spread the word about our exciting local stores. It really is a prime time to leverage your buying power into true community support.

JOIN US FOR THE CHAMBER’S BRAND LAUNCH PARTY

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is rebranding, and we hope you’ll join us to get a first look at our new look! We will hold a Brand Launch Party Thursday, July 18 from 4-6pm at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, 311 Curtis Street, Jamestown. Everyone’s invited!

For the past several months our Board of Directors and staff have had the privilege of working with the Mr. Smith Agency in Buffalo on a new brand. This work included an in-person discovery session with lots of time for discussion about our values and goals, and several follow-ups to review how we can visually represent our mission: to build vital connections, provide professional resources, and champion our local businesses in Chautauqua County.

This Brand Launch Party will also provide a summer networking opportunity with the Chamber. You can enjoy complimentary appetizers and a cash bar from 4-5pm. We will have a brief presentation at 5pm with our special guests from the Mr. Smith Agency, and then there will be more time to mingle, and courtesy of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute you can see the incredible artwork on display including the extraordinary exhibit Five Minutes in Nature from Kevin Ebi and Amy Tan’s Backyard Birds. Advanced registration is not required for this event but is appreciated for our planning purposes. Feel free to bring friends and colleagues! Registration is open now through the Chamber’s web calendar. We look forward to seeing you there!

BRANDING THROUGH STORYTELLING AND IMAGES WORKSHOP JULY 22

The Chamber of Commerce is proud to host award-winning writer and filmmaker Travis Carlson for a Business Builder Workshop July 22 on Branding Through Storytelling and Images. Carlson is a Chautauqua County native. He worked for five years with the Buffalo Bills and Sabres as a cinematographer before co-founding Pan-American Film Division in Buffalo. Pan-Am partners with local and national businesses to help them communicate with their customers or other businesses. Their original work includes the one-shot feature film Mother’s Day, as well as dozens of short films, three of which earned screenings at the Cannes Film Festival SFC. Pan American’s latest project is the book Mafia: Buffalo -vs- the Multiverse. It’s a true fantasy adventure that incorporates AI-developed images into the ultimate Buffalo Bill’s Mafia fan journey in a graphic novel style. This free Business Builder Workshop will be an engaging session for all local businesspeople. It will be held Monday, July 22 from 1-3pm in the Key Auditorium at the SUNY Fredonia Science Center. There will be plenty of time for a question-and-answer session with Travis at the end of the event. Advance registration is required through the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.

JAMESTOWN CRUISE-IN RETURNS AUGUST 9

One of Downtown Jamestown’s largest events returns August 9 as the Chamber of Commerce presents Jamestown Cruise-In from 5-9pm. This annual display of classic cars, hotrods, and cool vehicles always draws a crowd. This spectacular event is back for its 31st year! Enjoy live music by In Crowd, support local businesses with food and beverage purchases, and join in all the fun with another People’s Choice Award as spectators can text the number of their favorite car. Vehicle registration and sponsorship opportunities are open online now through the Chamber’s web calendar. Jamestown Cruise-In is sponsored by Cummins, Shults Auto Group, 3 C’s Catering, Elegant Edibles Catering, Axiom Office Imaging, Chautauqua Patrons Insurance Company, Affinity One Federal Credit Union, LaBella Associates, National Grid, Brooks – TLC Hospital System/Kaleida Health, and AHN Westfield Memorial Hospital.