Castle Rock business leaders commit to buying local in 2014

A group of local business leaders met in Castle Rock last Saturday as part of the Buy Castle Rock 2014 initiative, a community-led buy-local program with the goal of doubling local sales during the next year.

Taking place at Parker's Steakhouse, the meeting saw businesses such as Rusty's Resale, Pastime Saloon, PT Northwest, The Tea Cup, Kim's Unique Boutique, as well as Parker's, joining to discuss how clients and customers from each store could be encouraged to visit others in the area, through cross-promotions such as gift certificates and mutual advertisements.

Showing support were also members of the Castle Rock Police Department, the Castle Rock Library and Cowlitz County Fire District 6.

The stated goal of Buy Castle Rock 2014 was for businesses to not compete among each other but to find goods and services they can offer that larger cities cannot, like a small-town atmosphere and getaway-oriented services.

To help get interactions started, as well as to show the kinds of unique and attractive services Castle Rock has to offer, performers Buck and Elizabeth Stierle led a lighthearted series of country/western parodies and classics, as well as children's songs both popular and original. The Stierles have lived in Castle Rock for the last 13 years, but have been able to tour all over the country with their act, and were delighted to play a show in Castle Rock.

As an incentive to help businesses participate, as well as to further the goals of the group, local web developer Rod Daley has agreed to feature participating businesses on his networking website www.BagTheWeb.com for free.

Owner also of Tin Can Alley, located on Huntington Ave. in the back of the shopping center, Daley said he set up the web site so tourists and those seeking specific products would have a customer-oriented resource to find local businesses, pointing out other sites either cater only to the needs of potential advertisers or do not take care of customers.

To get in touch with Daley and find out how your business can be featured on www.BagTheWeb.com, call (360) 957-5069 or email Vintage_NW@yahoo.com.

For updates on Buy Castle Rock 2014, see the bulletin board outside Bargains Galore (123 Front Ave. NW, in downtown Castle Rock) and look for regular postings.