Decatur Selects Finalists for “Buy Local” Slogan Contest
Decatur Metro | May 4, 2012 | 2:26 pmOver at The Decatur Minute, Catherine has posted the finalists in Decatur’s “Buy Local” slogan contest. Here’s one…
CLICK HERE to see the rest!
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December 21, 2010 Decorate Decatur “Commissioner’s Cup” Goes to 176 Garland Avenue (1)
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May 13, 2012 Buy Local: Not Such a New Idea (11)
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March 22, 2009 Killing Indie Bookstores (and Local Economies) (10)
With all the bars, they could go with “Beer? Here!”
My problem with it is for an outsider (visitor from out of state) the word DECATUR is not in there. It could be interpreted as CATUR being the city name…(to the unfamiliar). Even for us locals, it would be nice to see the city name.
If it’s a “Buy Local” slogan contest, then it’s not for visitors.
I get that.
That could be solved with putting the City of Decatur words/logo at the bottom of the slogan. No?
I think its pretty creative…good job!
The comments over on Patch are interesting. I agree with those who find “Love Decatur, Buy Local” a bit on the crass side. And it’s not precise. What does “Local” mean? It’s less than a mile to a city border in my case– that’s pretty local but shopping there won’t help Decatur. “Keep it Indie-Catur” is fun and more motivating. But I agree with those who think that some may not get it. And not everyone in Decatur has a Berkeley side–will “Indie” appeal to all or be a turn-off for some?
I probably would have voted for one of the options that didn’t make it into the final four. I’m more motivated by what local shopping in Decatur has to offer than by trying to support local businesses. In fact, whenever I really love a business like “Blue Elephant” or “Indie” bookstores or “Jake’s Ice Cream” or “Cafe Cliche” or “Watershed” or “Metro Market” or “Inner Child” or “Hoopla” or “Taste” (original version), they disappear on me. So I’m not going to even try to help, I’ll just shop where I want. Most of the time, that happens to be in Decatur with the major exception of grocery shopping.
In my experience, design-by-committee is a bad idea and doesn’t end well. Therefore, it is with some chagrin I find myself really liking #1. (Really dislike all of the others, for assorted reasons.) I don’t think “indie” is indecipherable at all, and if it does mystify anybody, “Spend your money where your hear lives” should clear it up nicely.
“Indie”? Isn’t that where guys wear v-necks that show way too much, and skinny jeans? If so, that may describe some boys at the high school, but not anybody 30+ (70% of Decatur’s population).
Not anybody? We must not run in the same circles. I’d say among my over 30 (and 40) circle of local cohorts, plenty equate “indie” with independent business. Probably all of them when talking in the context of local shopping.
Not sure how I feel about this particular execution but don’t necessarily think it should be discounted just because it doesn’t speak the language of “unbeatable low prices.” At least in my sample, lots of folks prioritize independence.
Scott- Good of you to have worked into your comment what this is all about. As for your take, yes, it’s much better to discount the “other ‘ folks– you know, those who can’t afford to go 100% local. ( What? You mean even the “indie” prioritizers have to do some shopping elsewhere? For groceries and household items and office supplies and other stuff? Oh…okay. Well, as long as they do it at the “indie” approved corporate owned stores, they’ll still be alright. And the older folks are too old to matter anyway.)
Hmmm. I can’t quite tell if you’re affirming my support of our local entrepreneurs or accusing me of class warfare. But to suggest I’m advocating that we discount the value of people when I was clearly talking about assessing a logo, if that’s what you’re doing, is pretty low.
When I say “prioritize,’ the very nature of the word implies choices and is therefore totally irrelevant to what I think you’re saying. We all know that our indie businesses don’t really offer any significant choices when it comes to full-on grocery shopping or clothing staples like socks and underwear or a bunch of other things. So valuing our local business community plays no role in those purchase decisions because, guess what. You can be committed to our local business community (and the economic diversity of our community) and still shop corporate when you need to or just damn well feel like it. In a complex world, it’s possible to live in the grays that occupy reality.
Whatever you’re projecting on me is totally unsupported by my simple comment that some people can make the connection between “indie” and “independent business.” Which is all I said to begin with.
Scott, I don’t think you’re intentionally putting down folks who fall into the lower economic bracket. It’s just that your comment kinda reflects the always underlying Two Decaturs thing. It’s ALL tangled up together – local shopping, slogans, our mindsets and how values get attributed. It’s not that all of the Decatur folks who aren’t out there regularly dropping $$$ in local businesses don’t hold our homegrown businesses in high regard. Much more likely, most of these folks (me included) by necessity have to go to where they can best afford to shop. (I wonder what’s worse to our local shopkeepers: those who can only afford to be occasional customers, or all the many Decaturites who talk Buying Local, yet somehow don’t end up doing it– hence, the need for the campaign.) And yes, there is a tad bit of snobbishness detected in your mention of Walmart’s “unbeatable low prices” slogan and not needing to gear a City of Decatur advertising campaign to the masses. Again, I appreciate that you inserted it because it is what this is all about: combating the impact of Walmart coming to Suburban Plaza. (Personally, while I’d prefer a more classic Shop Local slogan & design like Cat has suggested below, I AM rooting for the campaign be wildly successful.)
It’s not snobbishness, Deanne. It’s basic marketing. As in, “local” is a niche market and it’s not an effective use of the city’s marketing dollars to use a mass market message (one built from the broadest drivers: price and convenience) that appeals to the widest audience because, as we all know, our businesses have a very hard time competing on either of those fronts. It would be an attempt to talk people into something they know isn’t true.
The city’s Economic Development department is specifically charged with maximizing our local economic situation and playing up whatever assets we have (even if those assets aren’t attractive or of use to all constituents) is what we pay them to do.
I’m cool with that, just as I’m cool with shopping outside Decatur when need dictates, or with people shopping wherever they dang well please.
This thread began with the suggestion that no one over thirty relates to the term “indie.” My personal experience is otherwise and that’s what I said. Meanwhile, on a side note, your comments suggest that my perspective is alien to those with economic challenges when you know absolutely nothing about my family’s economic circumstances. Clearly snobbishness is subjective.
Scott, your economic circumstances never entered my head– but, since from time to time you do share your local purchases and experiences on here, I think it’s safe to say that you fall into the frequent supporter of local businesses category, and I commend you for it. On the rare times when I can afford a treat, I spend my dollars locally too. Always, I’m very appreciative of the Decatur folks who help keep our shops, pubs, and restaurants going.
You’ve underestimated my ability to grasp how retail and marketing works. (I’ve got some background in it, so I’m covered.) You’ve also turned my wanting a classic look Decatur campaign–we’re encouraging EVERYone to spend their $$$ locally, right? So EVERYone should feel that the campaign’s talking to them, not just the 40 and unders– into me saying that the Buy Local focus is wrong. Nope. It’s just my preference in style, that’s all.
[Scott, I’m admittedly unhappy with some of the things going on in Decatur these days. I don’t see this exchange getting any better, so let’s chalk it up to me being in the wrong for it.]
Scott, I apologize for making you think I was judging you. I think highly of you, and was solely judging your comment. I’ll take you at your word that you meant advertising approach only, and hopefully you’re able to see why I jumped to the conclusion I did. There’s yet to be an indie/local vs. Walmart (or Dollar General or Family Dollar) discussion on here where a “so beneath us” attitude hasn’t emerged, and your referencing of Walmart’s slogan when discussing slogans for a campaign geared to fight Walmart’s impact struck me that way. I should have asked you to elaborate before going off, and I’m sorry for the unpleasantness that followed because I didn’t.
No worries, Deanne. I agree that some folks seem to think certain retailers are beneath us, but I’m not one of them. I don’t particularly care for big box retail myself (for a variety of personal reasons) but know it’s symptomatic of the way goods are currently produced, distributed and sold in this world. More than anything, I support the right of anyone to legally answer market demand. If there is a need for value-priced goods and retailers emerge to answer it, I say more power to them. Doesn’t matter who they are.
On the flip side, if a community decides collectively that some types of retail, or certain development patterns, are unacceptable to them, it is contingent on them to codify the things that they do want. I believe it is wrong to have a set of rules and then, when someone shows up willing to play by them (as WM did), single them out and try to stop them. The community should have seen the inevitability of big box going into Suburban Plaza and, if it’s really contrary to what they want, worked proactively with government and property owners to establish an alternate vision that served everyone. But they didn’t, so now we have what we have. It’s not actually about Walmart or “local” or any other ways to frame the issue. For me, it’s just about fairness.
All that said, whether I can afford to patronize them regularly or rarely, I’ll always be a champion for local business. I admire every one of them, simply because they put their own dreams and finances on the line to help fulfill Decatur’s ever-evolving vision for itself. That alone counts for a lot.
Again, no worries.
Actually, the local, independent store I patronize the most is the Hop and Shop. It crosses all sorts of class lines.
Right on!
Scott- Glad we’re good. :0)
(nelliebelle- If I lived near Hop and Shop, I’d walk there every day! :0)
It hadn’t occurred to me till you alluded to it the irony of this at the same time the mayor is talking about annexing Wal-mart.
And why are all the graphics look like they’ve been in a fender-bender? Was the “distressed” look required?
How about something a little more low key, like “Shops of Decatur” or “My town” and/or the little peaks of the houses/church in the logo sticking out of a shopping basket. Let stores display whatever logo on their doors as a reminder, the way a plaque on a historic building visually marks something valuable.
A reminder to “Shop your town when you can” sits better with me than a nagging “prove you care by spending your money here.”
+1
I think Keep it Indie-Catur is great. Original (unlike others), cute, and it reminds me to continue to support independent shops.
#1 is great. We can’t deny that by being residents of Decatur, we have a degree of snobbishness. It may be rooted in pride and/or in being glad that we are fortunate to live in a relatively safe, prosperous town with excellent schools and great dog parks. “Keep It Indie-Catur” appeals to the sort of folk who appreciate what the city has to offer to non-residents, like upscale eateries, slightly-eclectic privately-owned boutiques, etc.
I for one am glad that no alcohol-related slogans made the cut. Sure, this is a great place for boozehounds and closet drunks, but if we advertise that too loudly, we would lose much of what makes the city great. It’d be overrun by middle-aged frat boys and Jersey Shore wannabes.
I don’t understand exactly what “indie” means in this context.
Does indie include Natural Body, Taqueria del Sol, U Joint, Big Tex, Cook’s Warehouse or Taco Mac ? They aren’t exactly Mom & Pop operations. They operate locations outside the city , some even out of the state.
Are Fleet Feet, Mellow Mushroom and Dairy Queen indie since they are franchises with local ownership?
Where do Ted’s and Chick-fil-A fit in ? Are they indie? If not, are we encouraging people to avoid those local businesses ?
Then there is Ruby Tuesday and Starbucks. I’m guessing they are not indie by anyone’s definition but both seem to do a decent business and bring people into Decatur .Does the DDA mean to exclude them from the shop local campaign?
How about little Kroger? Not at all indie but I am glad to have a full service grocery store in walking distance to my house. I go out of my way to support that store because I believe it is an important business for my ability to drive less, walk more. I wouldn’t want to see a slogan that seeks to exclude this business.
When it comes to “indie” , I find it far too complicated to figure out where to draw the dividing lines .
Try not to overthink it.
Generally speaking, I think your right. “Indie” means a store that is independently owned, as opposed to a chain or franchise.
But in the broader sense, I think that the campaign is encouraging residents to patornize businesses in the immediate community regardless of whether they are part of a larger corporate entity. A vibrant downtown retail and restaurant area is a draw to residents and visitors alike. And these businesses give a lot back to the community.
Simple as that.
Just out of curiosity, where does this leave Intown Ace Hardware? Is it “indie?” It’s not in the city limits. Yet we were downright effusive in our praise of the place just a couple of weeks ago! I’m their biggest fan! No one does more to support the City of Decatur.
I guess I’m just saying I’m confused and conflicted by this whole campaign. And I don’t particularly like any of the choices
I think the point of the whole campaign is to encourage people who live in Decatur to shop in Decatur as much as they can. Intown Hardware is not in Decatur and therefore is not part of the campaign. I am wondering how you can claim Intown does more than businesses inside the city limits. Do tell.
Through contributions and support of the Decatur Education Foundation, the Decatur Presevation Alliance, the MLK Service Project, the Wylde Center (formerly Oakhurst Community Garden Project), etc. etc.
And site for school band fundraising, Decatur Girl Scout cookie selling, etc., etc., etc.
I don’t see that boostering for city businesses has to be at the expense of nearby helpful businesses. I think a major competitor for city AND surrounding small businesses is the Internet. Maybe a slogan should be something like “Get off your duffs and away from the computer and go walk or roll your way to a local business where you can actually see the real product instead of an electronically altered view of it since you are supposedly interested in the healthy built environment, you opinionated Decaturites!”
Part of the pro-local push is to maximize dollars that recirculate in the community, as opposed to being shipped off to some place like Woonsocket, Rhode Island (as the bulk of CVS dollars are). In that light, Intown Ace certainly qualifies, even if their property taxes are paid to DeKalb county.
A dollar spent with Tony is a dollar spent on Decatur!
Exactly. My preference for indies vs. big box retailers is the desire to support a thriving local merchant class, not a preference for one brand over another or an argument over labor practices. The anti-Walmart folks could get a lot more traction with non-leftist people if they considered this angle.
I really didn’t know, BTW. I realize I sounded snarky but was actually asking for reals!
I have this problem all the time. Welcome to the club!