Two chamber of commerce chiefs have taken to the radio waves with ads urging listeners to “Think local first.”
The ads also play automatically upon visiting the chambers”™ Web sites: www.orangeny.com, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce site, and www.dutchessregionalchamber.org, the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce site.
“Charlie North and I cut two public-service announcements,” said John D”™Ambrosio, president of the Orange chamber. North is president of the Dutchess chamber.
The ads urge consumers to shop and dine without going too far. Even online buyers are urged to think local. “We all have a choice where we spend our money,” North says in the ads.
In the spots ”“ 30 and 60 seconds ”“ North and D”™Ambrosio trade rapid-fire reasons to keep your money in local tills. “Think local first,” is the theme. The tagline has been in use a year now by the two chambers, but dates to three years ago when the Dutchess chamber developed it and began using it.
In the campaign, thriving businesses and the jobs they support are linked to regional tax revenue as reasons to buy goods and services in the valley.
The “Think local first” line is the product of North and the Dutchess chamber. “I applaud the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce for coming up with something that sounds so good on radio and looks so good in print,” D”™Ambrosio said. “Those who”™ve heard it have said it sounded great.” The Orange chamber represents 2,100 businesses.
“It”™s a collaborative effort to make the Hudson Valley a better place for businesses and for everyone who lives here,” North said. His chamber represents 1,762 businesses. “We want our members to benefit. The two chambers working together sends a positive message and sets a positive example.
“People are experiencing difficult times,” North said, noting that at such times: “You band together; you work together.”
The spots were recorded Nov. 13 at the Cumulus Radio station in Poughkeepsie. They now airing on both Cumulus and Clear Channel stations ”“ North estimated 14 to 16 stations ”“ throughout the Hudson Valley with the possibility of more stations to come.
“There are very few new things in the world,” D”™Ambrosio said. “”˜Think local first”™ was the best way I”™d heard it phrased. When Charlie North asked me to join him on this, I immediately said yes.” Â
