Over the holiday season this year, Be Noble Inc. and the Noble County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) collaborated on a promotion that brought nearly $4,500 in gross sales to support Noble County’s small businesses and home-based vendors. Noble County’s small business community includes more than 75 boutiques, shops, artisans, and home-based retailers, as well as several cultural and entertainment venues.
Made in Noble Gift Baskets were offered for a limited time, by pre-order online, during November and early December. Five differently themed baskets featuring unique goods and experiences available from small businesses. Products and services from 17 businesses helped fill the baskets. Community gift cards, postcards, and visitor brochures enhanced the appeal of gift options.
Made in Noble Gift Baskets were promoted under the SHOPNoble banner, a brand launched by Be Noble Inc. during the 2020 pandemic to help encourage residents and businesses to shop and hire local. SHOPNoble also launched two community gift card programs, an e-Gift card on the Yiftee.com platform, and the Be Noble card, available in physical form through Giverrang. Both gifts can be used like a credit card exclusively at locally-owned, Noble-county-based small businesses.
“These efforts have helped develop a network across our small business community,” explained Lori Gagen, Director of Operations and marketing specialist for Be Noble Inc. “SHOPNoble’s online, interactive business directory features over 230 local small businesses that can cater to just about every need or want. We strongly encourage people to shop and hire locally to keep their dollars in the community.”
Made in Noble gifts were first introduced in 2021. After skipping a holiday season, the staff at Be Noble Inc. and the CVB decided to bring them back again for 2023, this time far exceeding sales expectations. About 30 baskets were purchased in 2021.
“This year, the gift basket sale grossed nearly $4,500,” Gagen said. “Eighty gift baskets and twenty-three gift cards were sold through the promotion this year.”
The success of the promotion was attributed to the curation of unique local offerings, great collaboration across the participating artisans and businesses, and a robust marketing campaign, supported in part by a $1,000 grant from the CVB. The CVB’s gift covered administrative costs and gift packaging so that participating businesses could realize the greatest profitability possible.
“We appreciate the CVB’s support,” Gagen continued. “We also need to note the great outpouring of support from Dexter, one of Noble County’s largest employers. Dexter’s leadership opted to purchase Made in Noble gift baskets and gift cards as part of their holiday giving to employees this year. That was a huge boost to the promotion!”
To learn more about SHOPNoble, visit the website and follow the Facebook Page.
