Lansing businesses join Buy Nearby Guy at Zoobie’s Old Town Tavern
LANSING, Mich. — Old Town business owners in Lansing today joined James P. Hallan of the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) to remind residents that where they spend their shopping dollars this festival and Father’s Day weekend and throughout the year matters a great deal to Michigan’s local communities and state and local economies.
Speaking at Zoobie’s Old Town Tavern – an historic neighborhood bar that features Michigan wines and craft beers as well as other selections – Hallan said the state economy would grow by more than $9 billion and nearly 75,000 new jobs would be created if Michigan residents made sure to buy from retailers in Michigan, rather than from out-of-state sellers.
“Michigan communities such as Lansing’s Old Town – which will be celebrating the Festival of the Moon and Festival of the Sun this weekend – benefit from having attractive and exciting businesses that, as an added plus, offer made-in-Michigan products,” said Hallan, MRA president and CEO. “We know that retail purchases made right here in Michigan have a monumental impact on our state and communities.”
Michigan Department of Treasury figures show that retail trade accounted for $94.6 billion in economic activity in Michigan in fiscal year 2013, not counting food and drug purchases. That’s up 4.1 percent from the year before and, Hallan said, has plenty of room to grow.
To encourage shoppers to visit nearby retailers, MRA has launched the Buy Nearby campaign, an ongoing, year-round, feel-good campaign intended to create excitement about the great shopping in Michigan and the advantages of supporting retailers and communities in Michigan. Hallan was accompanied by Buy Nearby Guy, the campaign mascot that’s an 8-foot-tall representation of a shopping bag in the shape of Michigan, colored blue to mirror Michigan’s lakes and skies.
“Buy Nearby Guy is a big and highly visible reminder to shoppers to spend their money in the Mitten, regardless of whether it’s the local community where they live, work, vacation or just visit,” Hallan said.
Zoobie’s co-owner Aaron Matthews said he and his partners worked hard to hold onto Zoobie’s historic elements when they renovated the long-closed business in 2013. They value the fact that many area residents consider Zoobie’s a fun and unique place to go.
“About half of every dollar spent in a Michigan store goes back into the local and Michigan economies, and more than 866,000 jobs are directly dependent on retail sales,” Matthews said. “We’re proud to be part of the great shopping and dining experience that Old Town has become in recent years.”
Also joining in the news conference was Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero. The mayor said Lansing’s expanding entertainment and shopping options give Michigan shoppers a great reason to buy nearby.
“Area retailers offer customers a personalized, hands-on experience that out-of-state online retailers just can’t match,” Bernero said. “Our businesses rely on dedicated customers who realize the value they offer and buy nearby because of it.”
Austin Ashley, executive director of the Old Town Commercial Association, and Cravings Gourmet Popcorn owner Chad Jordan said Zoobie’s and Cravings are among the many businesses drawing people to Old Town.
“We hope shoppers choose the quality products offered at Michigan retailers and the good feeling that comes from supporting Michigan’s economy,” Ashley said. “By buying Michigan-made products and supporting Michigan retailers, shoppers support their friends and neighbors who work in those businesses.”
Jack Schripsema, president of the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau, said buying nearby keeps communities vibrant.
“Our area retailers – large and small – offer visitors fun and interesting experiences, whether that’s hanging out at festivals like the ones taking place this weekend in Old Town, renting a kayak and paddling down the Grand River, visiting our historic Capitol building or shopping at the many businesses in the Greater Lansing area,” Schripsema said.
A Buy Nearby Fact Sheet highlighting the benefits that buying nearby brings is attached. Additional information is available at BuyNearbyMI.com and Facebook.com/BuyNearbyMI.
The Michigan Retailers Association is the unified voice of Michigan’s retail industry, representing nearly 5,000 member businesses and their more than 15,000 stores and website. Retail is responsible for more than 850,000 jobs in Michigan.
