Abby’s testifies to embracing Be Local program
Embracing the Be Local program has provided Abby’s Gold and Gems of Uniontown with a positive impact on the community and the customers it serves.
Owner John Carom testified to how the program’s concept of thinking, buying and investing has been a successful business tool following Abby’s recognition as Be Local Business of the Year in 2016.
“We know customers want discounts, and we know businesses need to make a profit to grow. We just found some ways through the Be Local program to do both,” said Carom.
According to Carom, Abby’s had 158 customers who used the Be Local discount card last year, accounting for $61,398 in total sales.
Additionally, Abby’s sold 48 new Be Local cards that enabled customers to join the Be Local Network and receive other discounts offered at other participating businesses in the program.
In December alone, Carom said Abby’s customers had a combined total of $3,844 in discounts, and that sales from there on have totaled $19,642 for Be Local cardholders.
Danette Ramsey, Abby’s Be Local representative, said, “Unfortunately, we cannot report to you the number of Be Local Cards we gifted to our customers when they made a particularly significant dollar purchase.
I have to believe there were dozens more customers where we absorbed the $20 cost of the card as an appreciation gift from us to them.”
To date, the Be Local Network has about 160 members in Fayette County in addition to 20 corporate sponsors and eight supporting members.
There are 10 members in Greene County and one each in Washington and Westmoreland counties, where Be Local representatives are targeting the program’s expansion.
Carom admitted at first he didn’t see the marketing and sales potential behind the Be Local program but eventually realized it was an important business concept.
“We worked very hard on trying to develop good promotions for our Be Local customers, and it paid off,” said Carom.
Those interested in joining the Be Local Network can contact Ted Flowers at 724-425-7231 or by email at tflowers@heraldstandard.com. Discount cards are available at the Herald-Standard, 8 E. Church St., Uniontown, and at the Greene County Messenger, 82 W. High St., Waynesburg.