On Nov. 13, 2023, the City of Long Beach celebrated the citywide launch of its Shop Long Beach (Shop LB) program, a citywide initiative to support small businesses and strengthen the local economy by offering customer rewards for shopping at registered Long Beach businesses. The celebratory photo opp included remarks by Mayor Rex Richardson and other City of Long Beach leaders and showcased participating businesses in North Long Beach, among other areas of the city. The citywide launch comes just in time for consumers to access Shop LB rewards during their holiday shopping and on Small Business Saturday, taking place Nov. 25, 2023.
“Shop LB is a chance for residents to explore the many one-of-a-kind products and services offered by local retailers, earn rewards, and directly support our community’s economic wellbeing,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “By shopping local, residents can make a big impact on the Long Beach economy, create jobs, and help our community thrive.”
Open to most locally owned, independent merchants throughout Long Beach, Shop LB is now a citywide program with participation from over 100 Long Beach businesses ranging from retail shops, eateries, wellness, services, and more. Shop LB provides the opportunity for customers to earn valuable rewards and incentives simply by supporting their favorite small businesses. By shopping at local businesses, customers can accumulate reward points that can be spent like cash at a wide range of establishments throughout the city.
To join in on the rewards, consumers can download the Localight app, create an account, and get to shopping! Participating establishments will be shown in the app and display the Shop LB logo on their storefront, making it easy for shoppers to identify and support these businesses. Businesses are also encouraged to sign up for free and receive complimentary promotion on the Localight app as well as rewards for their business.
The goal of Shop LB is to generate $1 million in additional spending at local small businesses and making local purchases more attractive and convenient for customers. More information about Shop LB is available at shoplb.org.
“I am thrilled to have District Eight’s very own Dainty Disco representing the citywide launch of Shop LB. This vibrant and unique shop adds to our City’s eclectic charm, and its locally owned roots uplift our community,” said Eighth District Councilmember Al Austin. “Shop LB will promote all of our local businesses and drive local revenue. Dainty Disco is a shining example of why we should support small businesses, especially in this upcoming holiday season.”
“Our local shops and restaurants are the heart and soul of our city. They provide jobs, contribute to our tax base, add vibrancy to our neighborhoods, and many owners are Long Beach residents,” said Ninth District Councilmember Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie. “By shopping local, we can make a real difference in the lives of our friends and neighbors.”
As the holiday season draws near, the City is encouraging residents to support local businesses with all their holiday shopping needs by participating in Small Business Saturday, taking place on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Customers participating in the Shop LB program will earn extra rewards points for purchases made on Small Business Saturday.
To promote Small Business Saturday and Shop LB, now through the end of November, the City will conduct a social media campaign on the Department of Economic Development’s social pages at @lbecondev and the City’s main accounts at @longbeachcity that will highlight local businesses, the Shop LB program, and the benefits of shopping local. Visit ShopLB.org to learn more, and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram and X with #ShopLB.
To encourage residents to shop local, on Saturday, Nov. 25, free metered parking will be available in the following locations:
- Downtown Long Beach: Street parking south of 10th Street, including the Pike Outlets.
- Belmont Shore: Belmont Shore, including street parking and the five public parking lots.
This one-day free program celebrates and supports small businesses as they continue to recover from the impacts of the pandemic. The two-hour time limit remains in effect. The City Place garages located in Downtown Long Beach will continue to remain free for the first two hours. City Place garages A, B and C are accessible on Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Streets, between Pine Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard. No validation is required for the first two hours.
Small Business Saturday is an annual event created in 2010 to encourage consumers to shop local for the holiday season. According to the national Small Business Administration, for every $100 spent at local businesses, $68 will stay in the community. Shopping locally also reduces one’s environmental impact, encourages local businesses to reinvest in their communities, and increases local competition and innovation among small businesses.
Shop LB is presented by the City in partnership with the Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion (LBCEI) and Localight, a Long Beach-based startup with a mission to accelerate inclusive growth across local marketplaces. It is made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act, a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for Long Beach residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of $51 million has been allocated to support Economic Recovery including more than $440,000 to support customer activation, which includes support for the Small Business Saturday’s social media campaign. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.