When it comes to marketing inspiration, we often look at big brands to see what works, but what about local businesses? The Jersey Shore local biz circuit knows a thing or two about leveraging social media and marketing tools to bring in the masses all year ‘round.
After a few months here at lotus823, I began noticing how local businesses apply marketing techniques I use every day and decided it was time to give them some credit for their amazing work. Here are some of the local businesses that do an amazing job at driving consumer engagement:
Rook Coffee: Quality doesn’t have to be complicated
Rook’s simplistic black and white, yet widely recognized logo is seldom overlooked and easily recognized. Rook has mastered the art of simplicity in everything they do. Even though their success has earned them national recognition, Rook has stayed true to feeling like a grassroots brand. Every Rook fan will somehow convince you that they were one of the first to discover the coffee aficionados and that is the beauty of Rook’s calculated growth.
10th Ave. Burrito Co.: Locals are everything
From a humble hole in the wall to a food famous name, 10th Ave. has come a long way thanks to keeping it real with their local crowd. Every Monday is “Locals Night,” offering a $15 All-You-Can-Eat Buffet and live music by local musicians (Mariachi included). There’s always a line out the door but the restaurant stays grounded by always celebrating their hometown with their community.
Hazel By Jenna: Brand ambassadors for the win
Started by a 20-something year-old Jersey Girl only a year ago, Hazel is now a booming success ready to open a second location. The founder knew exactly how to reach her target audience – her Hazelnuts. The key Hazelnuts are the employees themselves – a true representation of the exact consumer Hazel is looking to target (and heavily promoted on the boutique’s Instagram account). You don’t just want to shop at Hazel – you want to be everything that is Hazel. The love is contagious and everyone who walks out of the store is ready to be a Hazelnut brand ambassador.
Who are some of your favorite local marketing masters? Share with us in the comments below!