TO OUR READERS: The Renton Reporter has joined with the Renton Community Marketing Campaign, the City of Renton and the Renton Chamber of Commerce to kick off the “Shop Renton, Buy Ahead of the Curve” campaign, designed to promote through the CurveCard the important idea of shopping locally. Following is a letter sent to the city’s businesses by the campaign’s partners, which explains how the program of discounts and special offers will work. Then, on June 26, watch for the CurveCard attached to the front page of the Renton Reporter. The CurveCard will be available elsewhere, too. It’s a shopper’s ticket to good deals throughout Renton.

In these challenging economic times, the Renton community is eager to help our local businesses survive and thrive. The Renton Community Marketing Campaign, the City of Renton, the Renton Chamber of Commerce and the Renton Reporter have partnered together to kick off the “Shop Renton, Buy Ahead of the Curve” campaign, and we encourage you to participate.

We regularly promote shopping and dining in Renton but we want to take this effort to the next level, and we need your participation to do so. Why promote shopping locally? When our residents and visitors shop, dine and play locally, they: sustain local jobs and help businesses employ local family, friends and neighbors; help maintain strong and diverse neighborhoods; reduce energy consumption and costs, traffic congestion, pollution and travel time; provide businesses with revenue to be able to reinvest profits in local nonprofit organizations; and support local government services like public safety and parks.

What is the “Shop Renton, Buy Ahead of the Curve” campaign?

The Shop Renton campaign is a joint effort of the Renton Community Marketing Campaign, the City of Renton, the Renton Chamber of Commerce, and the Renton Reporter to encourage residents of the greater Renton community and visitors to Renton to shop, dine and play in Renton.

How will it work?

Businesses who are participating in the Shop Renton campaign will display a Shop Renton decal in the window of their business. By posting the decal, they are committing to offering their customers who enter their business and present a “CurveCard” a discount or special offer of some sort, which they can define themselves and vary as they would like. It’s that simple!

How long is the campaign?

The “Shop Renton, Buy Ahead of the Curve” campaign kicks off June 26 and will last until the end of 2009. At the end of the campaign, we will be very interested in receiving your feedback about how the campaign worked as we assess whether to extend and perhaps build upon these efforts.

How will customers know about the CurveCard and get their own card?

We will be promoting use of the free “CurveCard” in City and Chamber publications and in the Renton Reporter. CurveCards will be attached to the front page of the June 26 edition of the Renton Reporter, which is distributed to 31,000 homes in the Renton area. Special “Shop Renton” advertisements will run in the Renton Reporter for several weeks. Additional CurveCards will be distributed through City and Chamber events, including Renton River Days, at Renton hotels and to thousands of employees who work in Renton. Additionally, the more than 25,000 anticipated visitors to Seahawks Training Camp, which starts Aug. 1, will receive an electronic version of the CurveCard and promotion of opportunities to shop, dine and play in Renton.

What does a business need to do to participate?

All participating businesses need to do is place a Shop Renton decal in their business window and offer discounts or special offers to customers who show a CurveCard.

Will the Shop Renton campaign promote certain businesses?

No – the Shop Renton, Buy Ahead of the Curve campaign is intentionally simple and promotes all Renton businesses.

What will participation cost?

There is no cost for customers to participate. Businesses may participate in the Shop Renton campaign at no upfront cost. If a business displays a Shop Renton decal in their business window, we ask that they honor customers’ patronage with a discount or special offer of some sort, which they can define themselves and vary as the business would like. Businesses may be contacted by the Renton Reporter about related advertising opportunities, but businesses are not obligated to advertise. If you are interested in advertising, please contact Renton Reporter at 425-255-3484 or nbonham@rentonreporter.com.

Can a business have more than one Shop Renton decal? Can I get more CurveCards to give to my colleagues, friends and family?

Please call the 425-430-6582 or e-mail dced@rentonwa.gov to receive Shop Renton decals or CurveCards. You may also pick them up on the 6th Floor of Renton City Hall (1055 S.Grady Way) or at the Renton Chamber of Commerce (300 Rainier Ave. N.).

Who may I contact with questions?

Please feel free to contact the City of Renton Economic Development team at 425-430-6582 or dced@rentonwa.gov, the Renton Chamber of Commerce at 425-226-4560 or info@gorenton.com, or the Renton Reporter at 425-255-3484.