For Mikey Welper, the idea behind his Small Business Spotlight started with something simple: wanting to give a little back to the businesses that help make Laramie what it is.
“I just think small businesses are the backbone of any community,” Welper said. “We saw during COVID how some of the small businesses struggled, and there were some that shut down. So this was just a way to give back to the community and the small businesses — to help spotlight them, to help draw customers or clients to them.”
Each month, the Spotlight features a locally owned business, helping introduce it to a wider audience through social media, in-store promotion and a giveaway.
People can enter through the promotion for that month, either by following the instructions on the Spotlight’s social media posts or by scanning the QR code on flyers at the featured business. The exact entry activity can vary from one Spotlight to another, but the idea is to get people interacting with and learning more about the business.
At the end of the month, Welper personally purchases a $500 gift card or certificate from the featured business, which is then given to the winner.
“It doesn’t cost anything for a business participating,” he said. “We ask that they share some of the stuff that we do on social media, just because that allows their followers or social media people to see that there’s an opportunity to win. But it doesn’t cost them anything. And then I just buy a gift card or a gift certificate, and then we deliver it to the winner.”
The businesses don’t have to fit a particular mold.
“The biggest thing with it is we’re open for anything as long as it’s locally owned,” Welper said. “So if it’s a locally owned business that benefits the community here, then we’re willing to do it.”
Some of the businesses have been suggested by people in the community, while others have come from Welper and those involved with the campaign.
And he says the businesses that really embrace the Spotlight often see the strongest response.
“I think the success of the Spotlight is a direct reflection of the businesses willing to help promote it as well,” he said. “We make flyers, we put them at the cash register, or they can put it up in their window. They scan a QR code. The businesses that really buy into it and have their employees buy into it have seen success.”
Some featured businesses have drawn more than 100 entries.
“That’s 100 people that are actively following that business that are trying to win that gift card,” Welper said.
The project has also grown in ways Welper didn’t necessarily anticipate.
When Ralph Perez of Tele-Hope won a Big Dipper gift card, Welper decided to make an additional donation to Tele-Hope.
“I think it’s definitely evolved,” he said. “Ralph Perez with Tele-Hope won the Big Dipper gift card, and I’ve known Ralph for a while, and all he’s done with Tele-Hope, and so I think it was just an idea of a spontaneous thing to also donate to them.”
Ultimately, though, Welper says the Spotlight is about reminding people what is already here in Laramie — and how much local businesses contribute to the community around them.
“With Amazon and with all that stuff right now, it’s very easy to go online, stay in your home and order something,” he said. “And I am as guilty as anyone of that. But getting people to know what’s available here, and also realizing that supporting those small businesses — those are also the small businesses that are donating money to 4-H or donating money to your little league baseball team.”
That connection between local businesses and the community they serve is what Welper hopes people take away from the project.
“Helping to give back to the community,” he said. “Hopefully, those businesses have enjoyed it, and hopefully it’s given them some value.”
And the door remains open for future suggestions.
“If you have a business that you’d want to spotlight, or if you’re an owner of a business, or if you have an idea of a business, we’d entertain any of that.”
Disclosure: The author provides photography and social media services to Mountain Valley Properties. This Is Laramie’s coverage of the Small Business Spotlight was independently written and was not paid for or commissioned by Mountain Valley Properties.