Shop Local Flower Mound Returns Nov. 1-7

Following the success of the initial Shop Local Flower Mound initiative last year, the second version figures to be even better.

This year’s event is scheduled for Nov. 1-7 with the goal of beating last year’s 40+ businesses providing patrons with deals and discounts in shopping, dining, and play categories. The program started last year as the country emerged from the first Covid-19 pandemic wave.

“Our businesses had really suffered many from shutting down, certainly the brick and mortar and local retail,” said Lori Walker, president of the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce. “We knew the brick and mortars had been hit really hard. Online shopping was easy but we wanted to do something that would encourage people to shop locally and spend their tax dollars locally.”

“We also wanted to kick it off at the beginning of the holiday season,” said Melissa Demmitt, Flower Mound’s director of communications. “It’s more than just the week but it’s the week where we promote the businesses to take advantage of the deals and keep them coming throughout the holiday season.”

Just as last year, a major social media campaign will promote daily themes – Tasty Tuesday, Winddown Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, Fashion Friday, DIY Saturday, Selfie Sunday, and Monday Fun Day. Citizens will be encouraged to share and like and comment on their experiences with participating businesses hoping to win cash prizes.

“The community really came together last year and we’re going to build on that,” Walker said. “It was a great collaboration of leadership between the chamber and the town.”

“It was cool last year seeing a lot of people both go into their favorite businesses and try new ones,” Demmitt said.

This year, deals will be featured directly on the shopdineplaylocal.biz website and Facebook page rather than having to click on the business web or social media sites. This will make it easier to find each deal.

Also new is a partnership with the Lewisville Independent School District where announcements will be made at Flower Mound and Marcus high school football games throughout October.

“I truly believe this is such a special community event,” Walker said. “Even though we are a large population it has a small town feel. I know that people get excited about that and want to shop local.”

By now residents should be seeing banners prominently displayed on poles near major intersections. Participating businesses also will feature decals on their doors.

“Flower Mound has so much to offer and we’re spreading the good and exciting news,” Walker said. “Like it or not it’s the responsibility of all of us in this community. For every business, it’s incumbent on them to want other businesses to survive too. That leads to a strong economy.”

Notices also are being included with October water bills and heavily promoted on both the chamber and town social media sites with the ultimate goal to have every business in town participate.

“We have to do everything we can,” Walker said. “It’s one thing to recruit great businesses coming here. It’s a whole other ballgame in keeping them open and keeping them thriving.

“Our dream at the chamber is that all of our restaurants are like “Cheers” where everyone knows your name. It’s family and it’s friends. We have great businesses.”

Any businesses located in Flower Mound or which are active members of the Flower Mound Chamber are eligible to participate. Visit shopdineplaylocal.biz/ to register.

“It’s such a great opportunity for the businesses that get free advertising through this,” Demmitt said.

“This is your chance to really be a part of something great,” Walker said. “It’s an exciting program. I think we could take it on the road so that the rest of the country could follow us.”