Did You Know

The Lincoln area is home to more than 20,000 businesses, most of which are locally-owned and operated 'independent' businesses? We certainly didn't realize how many businesses there are and had no idea just how many products and services are available locally that we had been buying online or driving to other communities to purchase.

It turns out that pretty much anything we need can be found in our own backyard with some 'digging', but it requires more effort than most people are able to spend to find out what is available. At the same time, big box stores and online mega stores with more marketing power are capturing customers' purchases and drawing them in and away from the downtown core and local independent businesses.

How It Works

To reverse this trend, we have built a local online marketplace and directory that features local businesses and the products and services they offer. With extensive features and easy to use tools, local merchants can be more easily found to stay better connected with customers and the community. Consumers are offered a convenient one-stop, online resource to find and learn about local business offerings making it easier to support local.

ShopLincoln.com's community marketplace enables consumers to buy online for in-store pick-up or delivery, read and write business reviews, purchase electronic online gift certificates, view restaurant menus, find sales and events, access coupons and special offers and much more.

As you can imagine, all of these features offer both businesses and consumers tons of value, but the real power of ShopLincoln.com is the combined efforts of the community and local businesses connecting through social media networks and the offline community marketing campaign that is evolving to include hundreds of businesses displaying signs and stickers that remind locals to shop locally.

Because local independent businesses generally keep more of the money spent with them within the community than corporate chains (45% for independent vs. 15% for chains), shopping with local businesses leads to a stronger local economy. This benefits everyone in the community as strong local economies provide greater access to opportunities and also more funding for local initiatives like parks and recreation, services and infrastructure, health and education. A marketplace of hundreds or thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation & low prices over the long-term.

By informing local shoppers about the choices available to them, as well as the hidden benefits of shopping locally, ShopLincoln.com aims to educate and influence residents to spend more of their money locally instead of sending their dollars outside of the community where it will benefit someone else's area instead of our own.

 What You Can Do?

There are several easy steps you can take to help us build up the community and support local businesses:

1. Use ShopLincoln.com as often as possible to learn what's available locally.

2. Make informed purchases and consider the total impact of your spending, not just the price you pay.

3. Encourage great local business owners to keep going by posting reviews on their profile pages.

4. Buy our local gift certificates instead of plastic gift cards from big box stores.

5. Frequent locally-owned restaurants instead of the national chains.

We can always use more help spreading the word, and we greatly appreciate those who help convey the message by putting up signs and stickers or linking to us online. Click here to request free stickers or a badge or link for your website.

Thanks for taking the time to read about ShopLincoln.com. We are passionate about building up Lincoln and love to connect with like-minded individuals.

Feel free to use the comments below to let us know about things you're doing to spread the word about shopping locally or to make Lincoln a stronger, more vibrant community.