2011.09.22
Roanoke Doesn’t Suck website promotes local businesses
Bazaar Consignment is one of the local businesses featured on the Roanoke Doesn't Suck website. Photo courtesy of Roanoke Doesn't Suck
You can support local businesses by patronizing them, and, if you like them, you can further help the business by telling your family and friends about them.
Jason Turner took the latter part to a new level.
He had the day off work one Friday and was bored, so he decided to stroll around downtown Roanoke.
He visited coffee shops, art galleries and other shops. Some of the businesses he’d never heard of.
Turner wanted to find a way to get out the word about Roanoke’s homegrown businesses.
“I hate to see things I love that are so great but people don’t find out about them, so they go away,” he said.
He and his wife created a Facebook page, “Things in Roanoke That Don’t Suck,” which has become a place for businesses to advertise and consumers to ask questions, such as the name of the best car wash.
From there, Turner and his wife launched a website called Roanoke Doesn’t Suck. The site posts fliers promoting businesses, churches and various organizations, and features photos of several business owners holding signs declaring that their shops don’t suck.
Turner said the site is helping a lot of businesses that are just starting out and don’t have a lot of money to advertise through traditional media.
He chose the name, which he knows can rub people the wrong way, because he kept hearing from his friends that Roanoke sucks.
“I used to kind of agree because I didn’t really know,” he said.
What other Facebook pages or organizations have you seen promoting local businesses?
Love it! But oh god please lose the comic sans font!
Comment by tass — September 22, 2011 @ 9:20 am
Promoton Commotion promotes local events, chartable fund raisng events, non-profits, and small busnesses around town. Star City Fame has promoted bands, arts organizations, and small busnesses. I am grateful to them both as well as ‘Things in Roanoke That Don’t Suck.’
Comment by Bayla Sussman — September 22, 2011 @ 9:51 am
@Bayla: Thanks for mentioning those. I’ve heard of Promotion Commotion, but couldn’t remember the name when I was writing the blog post.
Comment by Amanda Codispoti — September 22, 2011 @ 10:12 am
love “things in Roanoke that don’t suck”. Always use their facebook page to keep me in the know on the upcoming events…, because Roanoke so does not suck.
Comment by Robin H — September 22, 2011 @ 2:16 pm
Thanks Amanda! Fun Game announcement on Friday (9/30/11) Daytime Blue Ridge at Noon! We are thankful for everyone’s support…and Tass: we listened! No more Comic Sans! ;o)
Comment by Brenda McGure — September 23, 2011 @ 9:14 am
Oh, also, this picture was taken by a great local photographer (the guy telling everyone to HANG LOOSE). His name is Nick Mehta, friend him on FB (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1553158122).
Comment by Brenda McGure — September 23, 2011 @ 9:27 am
Free N Cheap stuff to do in Roanoke VA is a good fb page.
Comment by Babs — September 23, 2011 @ 10:15 am
@2 What is the website for Promotion Commotion, I googled it and can not find it.
Comment by RM — October 3, 2011 @ 1:48 pm
@RM: Promote Commotion on the web: http://promotecommotion.webs.com/index.htm
And on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PROMOTECOMMOTION
Comment by Amanda Codispoti — October 3, 2011 @ 1:58 pm
Thanks Amanda
Comment by RM — October 4, 2011 @ 12:54 pm