Marquette Businesses Join Buy Nearby Guy Ahead of Labor Day Weekend Festivities
MARQUETTE, Mich. — Upper Peninsula business owners from Marquette today joined Tom Scott of the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) to remind residents that where they spend their shopping dollars over the Labor Day weekend and throughout the year matters a great deal to Michigan’s local communities and state and local economies.
Speaking at Donckers, a century-old restaurant and homemade candy store in the heart of downtown Marquette, Scott 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 who don’t invest in the state.
“Michigan communities such as Marquette – a jewel of the Upper Peninsula that offers residents and visitors a lively downtown with a beautiful view of Lake Superior − benefit from having attractive and exciting businesses that, as an added plus, also offer made-in-Michigan products,” said Scott, MRA senior vice president of communications and marketing. “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 $93.7 billion in economic activity in Michigan in fiscal year 2014, not counting food and drug purchases. That figure, Scott 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. The Buy Nearby campaign includes a special Get Caught Blue-Handed Day celebration, which this year will fall on Saturday, Oct. 3. Retailers across the state will be offering special deals and promotions.
Scott was accompanied Thursday 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. The campaign also includes an #ibuynearby photo contest that awards Discover gift cards to shoppers chosen from among those who post photos on social media of themselves buying nearby at Michigan retailers.
“Buy Nearby Guy is a big and highly visible reminder to shoppers to spend their money in Michigan, regardless of whether it’s the local community where they live, work, vacation or just visit,” Scott said. “The #ibuynearby photo contest is another fun way for shoppers to show they support retailers in their community.”
Donckers owner Tom Vear said his family-owned business has been in place since 1914 and has served generations of area residents and visitors to Marquette. He’s still following the fudge recipe handed down through generations of the Donckers family, and the marble counter and wooden booths where ice cream treats are served remain the same.
“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,” said Vear, who also owns the historic Delft Theater building next door. “We’re proud to offer customers special service and a wide range of choices in downtown Marquette.”
Also joining in the news conference was Marquette Mayor Michael Coyne. The mayor said Marquette’s lively entertainment and shopping options give Michigan shoppers a great reason to buy nearby over Labor Day weekend and throughout the year.
“Area retailers offer customers a personalized, hands-on experience that out-of-state online retailers just can’t match,” Coyne said, noting that downtown stores include Art UP Style, where owner Carol Papaleo sells her distinctive Upper Peninsula art, and HOTplate, where shoppers make one-of-kind personalized ceramics. “Our businesses rely on dedicated customers who realize the value they offer and buy nearby because of it.”
Chris Wattsson is co-owner of Wattsson & Wattsson Jewelers, a store started by his father that he now runs with marketing help from his twin sister, Ruby. The store features jewelry made from local gold from Ropes Gold Mine, as well as traditional jewelry and pendants and rings featuring the outline of the Upper Peninsula.
“When a shopper buys from us, the money stays in Michigan and our community because many of our offerings are from here,” Wattsson says. “By buying nearby, shoppers are supporting someone’s dream to create something on their own.”
Jessica Shull, who runs Boomerang Retro & Relics, Marquette’s first retro-chic boutique, noted that Donckers, Wattsson & Wattsson Jewelers and Boomerang are among the many businesses drawing people to Marquette.
“We hope shoppers choose the quality products offered at Michigan retailers and the good feeling that comes from supporting Michigan’s economy,” Shull said. “By buying Michigan-made products and supporting Michigan retailers, shoppers support their friends and neighbors who work in those businesses.”
City Commissioner Tom Baldini and Mona Lang, executive director of the Marquette Downtown Development Authority, said buying nearby keeps communities vibrant.
“Our area retailers – large and small – offer visitors fun and authentic Marquette and U.P. experiences, whether that’s enjoying a special sundae at Donckers, kayaking on Lake Superior, enjoying our excellent breweries and restaurants or shopping at the many businesses in the Marquette area,” Lang 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 websites. Retail is responsible for more than 850,000 jobs in Michigan.
