Shop Lompoc Shop Small

Hey, Lompoc!  I asked Robin Dunaetz to write a guest post for the Biz Buzz, because Small Business Saturday is just a week away now, and Robin is the brains and the beauty behind Shop Lompoc Shop Small (SLSS). 

She will be embarrassed that I wrote that, but anyway.  Because.  However much credit Robin gets for her work in the Lompoc business community, it's not enough, and so I'm going to pile on.  Robin owns Surf Connection (which is one of the coolest stores in Lompoc), she started Lompoc's Cash Mob, and then she started Shop Lompoc Shop Small. And then, with co-organizer Heather Bedford of Graphic Systems, she organized the first "Sip Lompoc" in May.

So, next Saturday.  November 29.  A week from today.  What will you be doing?  Thursday is Thanksgiving, and Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year.  If you want to be part of the craziness, I can't stop you.  But what about Saturday? Why don't you get out, enjoy our little town, and meet your neighbors?  And, by the way, spend some money.

But wait, there's more: Start on Friday afternoon with Sip Lompoc, and you can spend some money ON WINE.

Here is Robin's guest post, which explains the history behind SLSS and what's happening this year.  Notice she uses a lot of passive voice in para #2, because she's trying to avoid taking credit for anything.  "A preliminary plan was put together... A meeting was scheduled... businesses were invited..." Robin Says:

Shop Lompoc! Shop Small! is an organized effort, supported by the Lompoc Chamber of Commerce, dedicated to the promotion and support of all the locally owned small businesses in the Lompoc Community. It is our belief that a strong local economy is dependent on the health of our locally owned small businesses.

The journey of Shop Lompoc! Shop Small! began with Lompoc Cash Mob in February of 2012 as an effort to recognize and support locally owned businesses that give back to our community. Nine Lompoc Cash Mobs later the vision was to mob as many Lompoc small businesses as possible on Small Business Saturday for November’s Lompoc Cash Mob. A preliminary plan was put together which involved asking participating businesses to have a special promotion for the event and a list and map of the participating businesses would be provided to the shoppers. A meeting was scheduled and businesses were invited for input and to gage interest. From the initial meeting the finalized plan of Shop Lompoc Small Business Saturday was born.

Our next Shop Lompoc Small Business Saturday is scheduled to coincide with American Express Small Business Saturday on November 29th. Enjoy the day exploring the Lompoc business community with over 40 locally owned small businesses offering specials and discounts all day long. Pick up a map at any participating business or the Lompoc Chamber of Commerce, visit 6 participating businesses (no purchase necessary), have your map validated and you can enter to win a 'Shop Lompoc Shop Small' gift bag filled with a variety of wonderful items from the participating businesses. Visit more businesses, complete more maps and have more chances to win!

My Sip Lompoc glass from the May event.

This year the community fun starts a day earlier, on Black Friday, November 28th with Sip Lompoc, because you can’t drink flowers! You are invited to have an afternoon of discovery, fun and relaxation as you wander through Lompoc, sipping wine at over 19 participating tasting rooms and wine bars. You will be provided a beautiful Sip Lompoc logo glass and a map to help guide you around to some of the best tasting rooms of the world! The event is from 2PM to 6PM, so enjoy your afternoon and get your holiday wine shopping on!! Tickets can be purchased in advance at Graphic Systems, D'Vine Wine, Lompoc Chamber of Commerce, Surf Connection, Lompoc Community Education Foundation Board Members and online at FirstStreet Tickets. Partial proceeds will go to the Lompoc Community Education Foundation, a 501C3 supporting students and the Lompoc education system. Check in for Sip Lompoc is at Southside Coffee Company on the day of the event, November 28th, from 1PM to 4PM, 105 South H Street.

Thank you for joining us on this journey! You can follow us on Facebook at Shop Lompoc Shop Small, Instagram at Lompoc_Life, Twitter @Lompoc_Life, or email us at lompoccashmob@gmail.com, and remember make every day a Small Business Saturday!

Thanks, Robin, for being a guest writer for the Biz Buzz, and for all your work supporting local small businesses. 



Click on "Get Notifications," and look for the checkmark to verify.

If you are a small business owner (or supporter) on Facebook, do this.  "Like" Shop Lompoc Shop Small.  (The page has almost 1000 "likes" right now.)  When you click on "like," the drop-down menu offers "Get Notifications" - select that.  (You want to hear about what other businesses have going on, don't you? And you ARE, of course, going to "like" or comment on some of the posts that you see, right?)  Then, when you have something special going on at your business, "tag" SLSS.  (P.S. Learn how to tag.) The tag is a cue for Robin - she will probably "share" your post on her page, so more people will see it.

Here's the thing, Lompoc: IT'S LIKE ROBIN SAID.  If you want economic development in Lompoc, you need to spend your money here.  Pass it on.  Both the money, and the buzz.