Dear Go Local Loyalists,
Hello, Spring! I love this time of year, I’m sure for all the same reasons many of you do. But instead of waxing poetic about all the things that make me so happy it’s Spring, let’s just get right to it. So much to share.
 I’ll start with February’s Love Asheville, Go Local Month. We had a full month of member events but the two I’m most excited to share were the Welcoming Spaces Training Certification that was cohosted and led by Blue Ridge Pride and the AI and Marketing event cohosted by AVL Digital Nomads with a presentation by Andi Graham, ice cream by The Hop, and music DJed by Devyn Marzuola. These were two well attended events with very positive feedback from Go Local members. With one of our major goals being to build community among the local independent business community, I believe these events opitimized our effort towards that end.
Welcome to our Newest Go Local Members!
In February and March we added 15 new businesses to our Go Movement! Help me officially welcome them to our amazing community! You can find them now in our on-line directory and smartphone app.
828 Gutters – Save 10% Off your first Gutter Installation or Gutter Guards
Asheville Ink – Get 25% Off your First order of $250.00 or more
Fioreously Delicious – 10% off any Weekly Meal Delivery
Irvin Music School – Half-Off First Month’s Lessons Or 10% Off Of Event Package
Practical Astros – Local astrologer for modern times. 20% off all services
RiverRock Clinic – $50 off an osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) session
Sehlke Pro Cleaning – 10% Discount for first time clients for any service
The Woof Lodge – 10% Off Overnight Boarding off a 3 night stay or more
Tralala Interiors – $50 Off Home Staging Consultation
WNC Trailer Trash – Get 10% Off New Customer Rental or Clean Out
Wink Drs. Park – 10% off all product purchases with go local card
On Tour Candle Co. – 10% off your Etsy purchase using code GLAVL
It’s All Fine and Danjee Podcast – 30-sec ad, recorded by hosts, ran during one podcast episode
Asheville NC Web Design – Free Web Hosting for 1 Year
Cedar Rock Adventures – $10 off
Go Local Supports Downtown Asheville BID Initiative
I hope for those of you who read the newsletter, you’re familiar with the BID (Business Improvement Development) initiative for Downtown Asheville. The Chamber started the initiative in late 2022 to kick start the effort. If you’re not familar, in a nutshell, a BID is formed to provide various enahncements to a specific area that is over and above what is already being provided by the City. For Downtown, the initiative is focused on enhanced safety, hospitality and cleanliness.
After talking with downtown business owners and reading results from surveys initiated by Go Local, The Chamber, and the Downtown Association, we support this initiative. All three of the survey results showed similar findings: the majority of stakeholders support this initiative, which I’ll add includes local independent businesses, some of whom are Go Local members, and local residents, some of whom are Go Local cardholders.
To learn more about the BID initiative, visit the Asheville BID website here. |
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Go Local Exceeds $250,000 donation mark after first 2024 Donation to Asheville City Public Schools
Go Local just completed its first accounting for 2024 card sales donations and sent checks in the amount of $11,032 to Asheville City Public Schools and the Asheville City Schools Foundation. Adding in the 100 free cards Go Local donates to all of the schools for their own fundraising efforts (where all proceeds are kept by the schools), this brings the total in cash and cards to over $20,000 for 2024. The total of donations since the card program began is over $250,000. We’re so proud of this program and the good works the schools, mostly through the PTOs, do with the donations.
103.3 Asheville FM Prepares for its Spring FUN(D)rive
Get our those checkbooks, open that Venmo or Paypal app, and get ready to support 103.3 Asheville’s Spring FUN(D)rive the week of April 19 thru April 26th. Click here to learn more. If you weren’t already aware, 103.3 gives away free Go Local cards with pledges (okay how cool is this….If you become a monthly subscriber at any level ($1 dollar a month, $30 a month), you’ll get a go local card and 103.3FM will renew it annually for you! They’re also giving away a commerative 15th anniversary t-shirt with a minimum $75 pledge. Designed by local artist Charlotte Cleary, seen here, and printed locally by local printshop Lightning Bolt Ink. Support our local community radio station by participated in this year’s Spring FUN(D)rive! |
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Welcoming Spaces Training Certification – Evening and Weekend Workshop Options
In February as part of Love Asheville, Go Local month, we co-sponsored with Blue Ridge Pride a Welcoming Spaces Training Certification Workshop. Business owners or managers who attended had a positive response to the training they received. Held in the morning on a weekday, it was well attended; however some business owners were not able to make it because of their work responsibilities. Go Local believes all of its businesses will benefit from and have the opportunity to attend this training. We have decided to add two Welcoming Spaces Training Certification workshops in April:
- Saturday, April 27th – 10AM – Noon
- Monday, April 29th – 6PM – 8PM
Additional information and registration can be found here. If you are a solopreneur or you have 5 or less employees and all attend, you will receive a certificate of completion, a sticker (print or digital) for your business, and an icon on Go Local’s on-line directory and smartphone app. |
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It’s That Time of Year – The Mountain Xpress Best of WNC!
The Best of WNC voting officially begins April 1st and ends April 30th! Here is the link to vote! And please, VOTE LOCAL!!
Reminder: each category has an auto-fill option to type in your name.
https://mountainx.com/bestofwnc/
MORE STUFF For All Our Go Local Business Members
Here are the links to the print graphics and the social media graphics. Mountain Xpress also have FREE table tents, posters, and magnets here in the office, if you’d like to stop by and pick them up.
http://mountainx.com/best-of-wnc-print-graphics/
http://mountainx.com/best-of-wnc-graphics/
AD BUNDLES!
There are great deals if you decide to advertise in this edition. Contact [email protected] or call 828-251-1333 ext1.
AdLib, Downtown Clothing Boutique, Celebrates 35 Years
Adlib would love for you to help them celebrate 35 years in downtown Asheville. They’re hosting an “anniversoiree” on April 24th from 5-7PM in their  store at 23 Haywood St. Open to all in the Asheville community, including local business owners, municipal leaders, and the shop’s loyal customers, the event will feature live music by local musicians Mr. Jimmy and Paul McIntire. Attendees will enjoy small bites, beverages, and the chance to win door prizes. Come and meet the owner, Anna Sagel, and ask her how she named her store! Great story! To learn more about AdLib, visit their website here.
2024 Downtown After 5 LineUp Announced
I can’t believe Downtown After 5 begins in just a couple of weeks, with the first Downtown After 5 event on April 19th! Woohoo! The Asheville Downtown Association just announced the dates and lineups, which can be found here.
 According to the Asheville Downtown Association, Downtown After 5 is held the third Friday of each month from 5pm – 9pm through September. It has become a staple of Asheville’s cultural calendar, offering residents and visitors alike a chance to experience live music in the heart of our vibrant city. This year, each event is centered around highlighting a nonprofit partner with a theme that celebrates diverse musical genres, food and beverage offerings, local makers, and community initiatives. Each Downtown After 5 event draws an enthusiastic crowd of between 5,000 to 6,000 attendees to North Lexington Avenue, transforming it into a vibrant hub of music, dance, and community.
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