|
|
|
The strength or weakness of our local economy affects all of us. What can YOU do to help strengthen our local economy?
Print and Save
 1. Be Prepared to Share: Cut and paste the following web addresses and save them on your computer! Then you'll have them ready to share with friends and family that are planning to visit Punta Gorda!
 2. Become a Retail Ambassador:
Visit www.puntagordashopping.com and print out the day tripping guides! Invite a friend to "day trip" with you and spend a day exploring our community! That's it! We know that those who truly Discover Punta Gorda...can't wait to share it with friends!
Start your adventure at Pies & Plates! Tell them you're doing your "ambassador training" and they will get you off to a great start with a free cup of coffee! They'll also give you a Retail Ambassador in Training Sticker to wear so our merchants will know that you're "in training!" This will clue them in to spend a few extra minutes introducing you to their businesses!
 3. Create a Discover Punta Gorda File: Take out a manilla file folder and label it Discover Punta Gorda! Begin collecting information about our community. When you have unexpected guests or are just looking for something fun to do...you can pull out the file for ideas! (Leave file in your guest room as a welcome guide!)
Here are a few guides you can print out and place in your file. Click to open
4. Support the Organizations that are Working Hard for You!
Main Street Punta Gorda is launching a new e-zine called In a Nut Shell. To subscribe send an email message to Main Street at info@mainstreetpuntagorda.org. Keep up to date on Main Street Events as well as volunteer opportunities. You can strengthen your local economy by volunteering to help with at least one community event this year!
You can support the Punta Gorda Downtown Merchants Association by attending Gallery Walk the third Thursday of each month (5-8 pm) and the Farmers Market on Herold Avenue (coming soon on Saturdays) and by patronizing downtown businesses!
A photo is s worth a thousand words...take lots of photos and email them to your friends!
The designers of the puntagordashopping.com web site need JPEG photos that capture Punta Gorda retail and dining experiences, scenic photos and photos of special events! If you have some great photos to share please email them to piesandplates@comcast.net.
 6. Connect Up:
If you have a personal web page or a business web site add a link to www.puntagordashopping.com! Then people who visit your web site will also learn about Punta Gorda!
 7. Sponsor a Business Page: If you own a business, think about becoming a page sponsor of puntagordashopping.com
 8. When you can't find what you need locally Shop our On-line Stores!
Many of our local businesses have created web sites that offer on-line shopping! The Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce will soon have a listing of these businesses posted on its web site.
Think a second about the impact you have when you purchase from local merchants instead of one from New York or California or wherever! Your local merchants purchase supplies from other local merchants. If they need a vehicle they buy it locally. If they need renovations they use local contractors. They hire local attorneys, accountants and bookkeepers. They own a local home and contribute to our tax base. They shop for their groceries in our community. They hire your neighbors and friends. They donate to local charities and volunteer with local non profits. So shop local, even when you shop on line!
 9. Send out Invitations by email, by phone, by letter...to friends and family....near and far...to come visit you in Punta Gorda! I'm sure we all have friends who live in Port Charlotte or Englewood or North Port who have never really discovered Punta Gorda! Invite them and show them the town! Then do it again and again and again!
10. Shop Punta Gorda First! |
