News

Program gaining momentum as gift-giving season begins

By Jim Planck

GREENE COUNTY — Greene County’s “buy local” initiative Think Big Buy in Greene — continues to reward shoppers around the county for doing their shopping at hometown businesses.

The program regularly selects a shopper at random from among those out and about at participating Greene County stores, and awards them a $250 spending certificate.

The selections can occur either during the week or on weekends, and will run through Dec. 25, with prizes funded by either the stores or chamber of commerce members.

Greene County Legislature is the program’s underlying sponsor and creator of the initiative, and Chairman Wayne Speenburgh said the buy local campaign is going well.

“Greene County’s Think BiG program has been gaining steady momentum since the Greene County Legislature launched it in late September,” said Speenburgh.

“We believe the campaign is really prompting people to think harder about supporting local businesses when they shop,” he said.

Fellow legislator William Lawrence agreed, adding, “Everyone here in Greene County is an important part of the community, and needs to understand that everyday purchases make a big difference to our economy.”

“As we head into the holiday shopping season, support of our local shops and services is crucial,” said Lawrence.

Noting the significance of Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving when retailers can see revenues go from the red into the black — Lawrence said, “We hope all of our retailers — big and small — had a truly Black Friday.”

Like Lawrence, fellow legislator Keith Valentine has also been active in fostering the program.

“In today’s economy,” said Valentine, “it makes good sense for Greene County residents to buy locally. It helps keep our businesses strong, our jobs local, and services thriving.”

“Buying locally also saves gas and time and eliminates the hassle of getting on the Thruway and shopping in big, impersonal malls,” said Valentine.

“It’s a great way to give your holiday gifts a unique local touch,” he added.

In Greenville, at the Lime Gazelle toy store, owner Wells Packard, couldn’t agree more and — as a participating business — was both happy and proud to have been the site for a recent award winner, with Timothy Beaver, of Freehold, winning $250 in Lime Gazelle dollars.

“It has been a very exciting week at Lime Gazelle,” said Packard. “Hundreds of new toys have just arrived, and now that we had the chance to reward one of our customers with a $250 shopping spree, it feels like Christmas has begun.”

“I am supporting the Think Big program,” said Packard, “because I own a local toy store, but more than that, I love shopping in Greene County because of the personal service.”

“The guy at the checkout counter, his kids go to schools with my kids, the woman at the GNH Lumber, she store shops in my store — our money goes back and forth and keeps food on the table,” he said, “and even the food tastes better when it is grown in Greene County.”

“With the economy where it is today,” said Packard, “it is more important than ever to support local businesses — not just because we need to be mindful of where our tax dollars go, but because our neighbors are offering quality products and services right here in Greene County, often with higher quality and lower prices.”

“We get a lot of tourists buying toys at Lime Gazelle,” noted Packard, “but I get excited when someone from Greene County walks in for the first time.”

“They are amazed and delighted. How long have you been here, they always ask,” he said.

“A relative or best friend has raved about Lime Gazelle, and they thought they should finally check us out,” he added.

“They are so happy to have a store like this in Greene County, and I am happy, too,” said Packard, “because if they are local, they’ll be back.”

In addition to Beaver, other recent winners include Durham’s Sibyl Schwarzenbach, who won a $250 shopping certificate at Slater’s Great America, in Cairo, Acra’s Linda Johnson, who won a $250 gift certificate from Tip Top Furniture in Freehold, and Laurie Esposito of Athens, who won a $250 Heart of Catskill Association gift certificate at Mahalo, on Catskill’s Main Street, and which is usable at all HOCA member shops.

The promotional campaign for Think BiG was developed by Greenville-based marketing agency KathodeRay Media for the Greene County Legislature, and even included production of a local TV ad with assistance from Mid-Hudson Media, of Hudson.

For more information on the Think BiG program, visit .

To reach reporter Jim Planck, call 518-943-2100, ext. 3324, or e-mail jplanck@thedailymail.net.

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