Long Beach City announced the launch of its Shop Long Beach (Shop LB) initiative yesterday. This ground-breaking scheme aims to support small businesses and fortify the community economy by incentivizing customers to shop at registered local businesses. As stated in the recent press release by City of Long Beach, an additional $1 million in spending on local small businesses is to be boosted through Shop LB, making local shopping more appealing and convenient to customers.
The program's launch is just in time for the holiday season and, additionally, coincides with Small Business Saturday occurring on the 25th. Throughout the day, shoppers are able to use the Shop LB program to earn extra points on their purchases that can be used at numerous local establishments. This data is beneficial not only for shoppers but also aids small businesses in recovering from the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To participate in the Shop LB program, consumers are required to download the Localight app, set up an account, and begin shopping at businesses where the Shop LB logo is displayed. With over 100 local Long Beach merchants participating in the initiative, independent businesses are predominantly eligible for inclusion. Participating establishments range from retail shops to wellness and service providers.
Shop LB and Small Business Saturday are being promoted through various channels by Long Beach City, including social media campaigns via the Department of Economic Development's (@lbecondev) and the City's central accounts (@longbeachcity). Moreover, free metered parking in downtown Long Beach and Belmont Shore will be available on the 25th, anticipating that residents will be motivated to shop locally and support small businesses. However, the parking limit of two hours still applies.
Small Business Saturday, an annual event since 2010, encourages local shopping during the holiday season. As earlier highlighted, per the National Small Business Administration, $68 of every $100 spent at local businesses remains within the community. Local shopping not only generates business revenue but also profits the environment, motivates businesses for reinvestment, and fosters competition and innovation.
Shop LB is a collaborative effort between the City of Long Beach, the Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion (LBCEI), and Localight, a Long Beach startup aimed at promoting inclusive growth in local markets. Enabled by the Long Beach Recovery Act allotting $51 million for economic recovery, including over $440,000 for customer activation and Small Business Saturday's social media campaign. Details about the Long Beach Recovery Act can be found at longbeach.gov/recovery.
As the holiday season approaches, the City of Long Beach is encouraging residents to satisfy their shopping needs by participating in Small Business Saturday and the Shop LB initiative. Supporting local businesses not only stimulates the local economy but also creates jobs. As stated by Ninth District Councilmember Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie in a press release, "By shopping local, we can make a real difference in the lives of our friends and neighbors."
