Love Local Campaign Launches to Remind St. Louis Holiday Shoppers, “When We Spend Here, It Stays Here”

Multimedia campaign from Greater St. Louis, Inc.’s STLMade initiative stresses support for local small businesses

In advance of the upcoming holiday season, Greater St. Louis, Inc. — through its STLMade initiative — has kicked off its 2023 Love Local campaign to promote shopping at local small businesses throughout the St. Louis metro.

“The goal of Love Local is to rally the support and dollars of everyone in our community behind our small businesses and showcase the role we all play in growing St. Louis,” said Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc. “We want to make sure people across the 15-county bi-state St. Louis metro know that when we spend here, it stays here.”

Supporting and strengthening small businesses is essential to driving inclusive economic growth across the St. Louis metro. Small businesses represent the majority of firms throughout the region, employing almost half of the metro’s workforce. As identified in the STL 2030 Jobs Plan, building a world-class small business ecosystem that holistically supports entrepreneurs is critical to the growth and success of not just those businesses, but the regional economy.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our community and our economy,” added Hall. “Every dollar someone spends at a small business in their community not only helps that business grow, it also helps that business support local parks, youth sports teams, and any number of initiatives and organizations in their community that strengthen the very fabric of our region.”

The Love Local campaign includes paid broadcast media, social media, outdoor, and print advertising, reminding the St. Louis metro that shopping and gifting locally not only boosts the local economy, but supports the livelihoods of friends and neighbors.

A web page offers inspiration for shopping, eating, and gifting locally, while a Love Local toolkit is available for small business owners, complete with downloadable assets like graphics (including customizable options), a video, posters, and stickers they can use to harness the Love Local movement.