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Erlanger proclaims Small Business Saturday, spotlights El Ocho Loco in new video series
Summary
Mayor Jessica Fetti proclaimed Nov. 30, 2024 Small Business Saturday for the City of Erlanger and the city's economic development director introduced a business-spotlight video for El Ocho Loco as part of a new "Pocket Docs" series to promote local merchants.
Mayor Jessica Fetti proclaimed Nov. 30, 2024, as Small Business Saturday in the City of Erlanger and announced the city's designation as an American Express Small Business Saturday neighborhood champion.
Mark Collier, Erlanger's economic development director, told the City Council that the designation allows the city to distribute branded merchandise to local merchants and that about 70% of that merchandise has already been handed out. "Studies show that 68% of every dollar spent at local businesses stays in the community," Collier said, comparing that to "about 43% for nationwide chain" businesses and urging residents to "shop small, shop local, dine local." The proclamation was read at the Nov. 19 special council meeting.
As part of the celebration, the council presented a business-spotlight for El Ocho Loco, a restaurant located at 621 Stevenson Road that opened in July 2018. Collier introduced owner Luis Leon and filmmaker Brandon Farris and said the city will feature a short video about the restaurant that El Ocho Loco can also use on its own social channels.
Luis Leon described his path to opening the restaurant and thanked the council for the recognition. "People come and eat and be happy with you too," Leon said, reflecting on the customer relationships his business has built. Filmmaker Brandon Farris said the short-form series, called Pocket Docs, aims to "pull out the heart and soul of the small business owners and connect them to our community." Farris described the project as quick-to-produce, local storytelling that gives customers more context about a proprietor's background and motivations.
The council said the videos will be promoted on the city's social channels and that the recorded deliverable will be provided to the featured business for its own use. The proclamation and the business-spotlight are intended to raise awareness of local merchants ahead of Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30.
The city did not provide an estimated budget for the merchandise distribution at the meeting, and the exact schedule for further business-spotlight features was described only as forthcoming.
