Merchants try ‘revolutionary’ approach
By Birgitta Wolfe, Managing Editor
BORDENTOWN CITY — The downtown merchants want to revolutionize thinking when it comes to shopping strategy.
Some 7,500 door hangers with attached discount rewards card are being distributed by Bordentown Boy Scout Troop 13 in the city and in Bordentown Township and Chesterfield encouraging people to “think local” when shopping.
Sponsored by the Downtown Bordentown Association, the idea of the It’s Revolutionary to Think Local campaign is to convince people that patronizing local businesses benefits the community, said Doug Palmieri, the group’s chairman.
Eighty-seven cents of every dollar spent at local stores filter down to the community, whereas only 13 cents comes back when spent at an out-of-town “big-box” store, said the owner of the Old Book Shop on Farnsworth Avenue.
Marguerite Mount, chairwoman of the city’s Economic Development Advisory Committee, said her group suggested the idea to the merchants’ association and “they decided to run with it and we stepped out of the way.”
The effort is a bi-local program to reward the city people who already shop downtown and to encourage shoppers from the surrounding towns to patronize downtown businesses, Ms. Mount said.
The reward cards on the door hangers can be brought to participating downtown merchants who create their own discount offers and specials, Mr. Palmieri explained.
Some 12 to 16 Boy Scouts were to continue their door-hanger canvassing this past weekend in four groups, said Vivian Tuccillo, spokeswoman for the troop.
Banners with the It’s Revolutionary to Think Local logo and a participating store’s name were bought by the Downtown Bordentown group at $190 each and line part of Farnsworth Avenue.
Of the 55 business establishments that were contacted, none opted out of the program, Mr. Palmieri said.
However, he was not sure how the professional participants, such as dentists or lawyers, would chose to define their rewards benefits.
The participating businesses place “We honor Bordentown City Rewards Card” in their windows.
The program list 10 basic reasons why shoppers should buy local:
• Recycle money in their own community;
• Reduce environmental impact;
• Small businesses support local suppliers;
• Local businesses require less infrastructure spending than chair stores or shopping centers;
• Local businesses maintain uniqueness of the community and make it an appealing place.’
• Supporting local business supports neighbors;
• Buying local stimulates jobs in the community;
• Money spent local stays local.

