What is BUY RIVER? The BUY RIVER program is a unique way for consumers to generate rewards while supporting locally owned businesses and local non-profits. It all begins with consumers purchasing a $10 BUY RIVER card. Five dollars from every card sale goes toward the Rocky River Education Foundation.
Pam Alerine, owner of Style Mutt and member of the BUY RIVER Committee, said “I’m so excited about this program; it will be great for the community, the schools and the small business owner.”
How does it work? When consumers use a BUY RIVER card at a local card accepting merchant, they will benefit from a special BUY RIVER community rebate offer.
- The rebate is created by each participating local business, so they vary. For example, it might be a 3% rebate on the entire purchase, or it could be a 5% rebate on a purchase of $50 or more, or 10% rebate on a weekday lunch.
- The merchant decides the rebate parameters when signing up for the program and it can be revised from time to time to re-direct buyer behavior or better address competitive threats.
- A portion of that rebate is then returned back to the consumer as a rebate check from I Buy NEO, and a portion is directed to the Rocky River Education Foundation or a local non-profit of the consumer’s choice. So, with one swipe of the BUY RIVER card through a business’ MasterCard/Visa terminal, a consumer has supported a locally owned business, saved some money, and made a donation to a non-profit organization.
How to sign up as a merchant? New merchants are signing up now. The more merchants who sign up, the stronger the program will be.
- It’s easy to become a participating merchant by contacting our Chamber representative, Cliff Obrock by calling 216-373-7557.
- Rocky River Chamber of Commerce merchants can sign up for free; the initial cost for non-members is $200.
- The only requirement is that you are a local, independent business that makes your own marketing and budget decisions autonomously.
- The current MasterCard/Visa terminal you use is sufficient for I Buy NEO processing, or enter transactions through the web portal.
- Completion of your merchant enrollment form is simple. Click HERE for a FORM. Alerine filled out the form for Style Mutt in just a few minutes. She said, “For the short amount of time it took to fill out the form, I’m sure many additional sales will be generated.”
- Enrolled merchants are identified and promoted as participants on the I Buy NEO website and on the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce web site as well. They are also given Point of Sale materials and an attractive window cling that shows their affiliation with the program.
- Merchants can also gain information on their customers’ buying behavior through the I Buy NEO program as well.
How to get a BUY RIVER card?
- Cards can be purchased for $10 at the Chamber office.
- Chamber members who renew their membership in 2009 will receive a FREE BUY RIVER card.
- Buy your BUY RIVER card at fine merchants such as The Woods, Pearl of the Orient, Danny Boy’s, Pure Enchantment, Jake’s Life Rocks, Paper Trails and Bead Q. Stay tuned for more merchants selling BUY RIVER cards in the near future.
Log onto www.ibuyneo.com to learn more about this program, enroll your business or purchase your card. Assistance in any of these areas can be obtained by calling Cliff Obrock of the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors at 216.373.7557 (Rocky River Chamber of Commerce) or Dan Roman of COSE at 216.592.2304.
BUY RIVER is our local collaboration with COSE’s I Buy NEO program. It encourages residents of Northeast Ohio to buy from local, independently owned businesses which brings a greater economic impact to our region. The program also helps level the playing field between big business and small local enterprise. It’s like a loyalty program for a group of local, independent businesses.
The Council of Smaller Enterprises’ (COSE) I Buy NEO program provides consumers a simple way to support locally owned businesses throughout Northeast Ohio. From a merchant point of view, it’s a great way to promote your locally owned business while building a closer bond with your customers. It has become a regional effort and the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce is one of I Buy NEO’s newest partners.
