Stuart Hanson walks near “B” Sweet Cupcakes in downtown Loveland on Monday as the city's Economic Development Department launches a campaign called “Small Business, Big Summer” aimed at promoting small businesses. (Jenny Sparks / Loveland Reporter-Herald)
With major road improvements taking place in downtown Loveland this fall, Dana Brungard, co-owner of “B” Sweet Cupcakes, is hoping to draw more customers to her bakery on East Fourth Street. So this summer, she's teaming up with the Loveland Economic Development Authority and the Chamber of Commerce for a “Small Business, Big Summer” campaign that rewards shoppers who shop locally.
“We've been working with the city of Loveland to find ways to grow our business so we can survive,” she said of the Heart Improvement Program (HIP) road project that will begin in her district in September, “so when we heard this promotion was coming out, we thought it would be a good way to bring in more customers.”
That's the goal of Marcy Willard, the city's interim economic development director. Willard acknowledged that the long-awaited project was part of the rationale behind the campaign: With five blocks of Fourth Street slated for a complete makeover, the city wanted to help area businesses prepare for major traffic disruptions.
“Times of great change bring great opportunity,” Willard said.
But this isn't just for downtown businesses, said Allison Bowling, the city's business attraction manager. Another goal of the campaign is to remind local residents of the important role that the city's small businesses play. About 90 percent of the area's businesses have fewer than 20 employees, Bowling's figures show, and they're the engine of the city's economy.
“Whether it's downtown, East Loveland or Northwest Loveland, this is just an effort to reach out far and wide and understand the greater benefit to all the businesses that are already here,” Bowling said.
The campaign began Monday and will run through Sept. 6. Anyone who shops at participating stores and presents proof of purchase at the Loveland Visitor's Center will receive a token of appreciation and be entered into weekly drawings for gift cards.
The city is also providing promotional materials and social media support for the campaign.
So far, 11 Loveland businesses have joined the campaign, and Bowling is actively seeking more participation.
“We're hoping to get businesses on board and that will lead to customer participation,” she said. “So we're actively trying to encourage widespread business participation.”
For more information about the campaign and a list of participating businesses, visit lovelandeconomicdevelopment.org/smallbusinessbigsummer