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Camden Mayor Addresses CCSNJ’s Camden Business Council on Buy Camden 1st Initiative
Camden Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen addressed the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey’s Camden Business Council last evening at the Hilton Garden Inn. He presented an update on his Buy Camden 1st initiative, launched in October to help Camden-based small businesses grow, in partnership with the Latin American Economic Development Association (LAEDA).
“Buy Camden 1st is more than a new initiative. It’s a movement, one that supports our City’s great, resilient and diverse local small businesses and helps them grow by encouraging large corporations and institutions to commit to buying goods and services from Camden-based businesses first,” Carstarphen said in his announcement.
The two-pronged approach to Buy Camden 1st includes building a searchable online business directory where key information on the City’s small businesses can be found; and, securing the support of Camden’s corporate sector and anchor institutions to use the directory for their purchases.
“Since BuyCamden1st.com went live last month there have been more than 1,300 actively engaged users, which is a very respectable showing for a brand-new program and website,” the Mayor said. The website houses the directory that currently has close to 70 Camden-based small business listed.
“Now, large businesses and institutions, and their employees, have a place to find Camden-based small businesses that can provide them with specific goods and services,” said Carstarphen. “These organizations have told us they want to buy from Camden-based small businesses but needed a comprehensive and dependable resource to find them—now they have it.”
Every small business in the city that wants to be part of the movement has the opportunity to get listed in the directory by completing a form found on BuyCamden1st.com.
“We’re inviting all city small businesses to participate, like those that want to sell their cakes, flowers, t-shirts, chocolates, and catering services to corporations and institutions in Camden,” said the mayor.
The mayor also said, “Getting listed in the Directory increases your visibility and shows you’re ready and willing to sell your goods or services to the City’s corporate, healthcare and institutional sectors and their employees. The Directory also serves as a lead generation tool and free advertising for your business.”
Interested businesses can level up their capacity by working with LAEDA to become Camden Verified. This process sets apart businesses that have undergone rigorous vetting to ensure they are ready and able to meet the needs of corporations and institutions in the city.
The BuyCamden1st.com website provides information on Resources and Financing to help small businesses; and eventually will include information on procurement and purchasing opportunities by businesses in the city.
Buy Camden 1st has been endorsed by numerous community organizations in the city, including: Haddon Avenue Business Association, Parkside Community and Business in Partnership Inc., Camden Community Partnership, Center for Family Services, Camden Lutheran Housing Inc., Downtown Camden Business Improvement District, Heart of Camden, Hopeworks, Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society, and The Salvation Army Camden Kroc Center.
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Source : https://www.tapinto.net/towns/camden/sections/business-and-finance/articles/camden-mayor-addresses-ccsnj-s-camden-business-council-on-buy-camden-1st-i
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