Join Shop Durham for free
And align yourself with hundreds of independent Durham businesses in the movement to keep things local and support our community.
Join
Do you have an Independent Business in Durham?
We are here to connect, engage and support you.
The Shop Durham card helps the community get out and discover local businesses like yours. Simply create an unique offer for your business that Shop Durham cardholders can enjoy. By joining, you’ll be part of the shop local movement and assist with fundraising efforts for local nonprofits.
Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs at our mixers, promote your business at seasonal markets, align your business with our Shop Local Campaigns like Buy Local Month, and so much more.
Tap into our resources and get the support you need.
Join Shop Durham for free or check out our premium membership option below!
We’re building a movement.
Are you ready to join us?
Business
Criteria
The following criteria are necessary for businesses joining Shop Durham and constitute Shop Durham's definition of a local independent business:
1) The business is privately held and not publicly traded
2) The business is based locally in Durham, North Carolina and has no corporate or national headquarters outside the state
3) The business owners who have a controlling interest of more than 50% live in Durham or surrounding county
4) The business can make independent decisions regarding the name and look of the business, business purchasing, practices and distribution, as well as pays all their own marketing, rent, and other business expenses
Membership
Enthusiast
$49 annually
Shop Durham Card Offer
Simply create an unique offer for your business that Shop Durham cardholders can enjoy.
Choose your own reward! As a participant, you agree to honor your offer to cardholders from the time you sign on through December 31st, 2022. Renewal is automatic every November.
Homepage Placement
Priority placement of your logo and link on the Shop Durham home page
Business Feature
Featured on Shop Durham e-newsletter
Social Media Feature
Your business will be featured on all social media outlets including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
Priority listing
Priority listing in all online Business Directory categories
Markets
Invitation to participate in seasonal markets to sell your products and promote your business
Business Listing
Inclusion in Durham's online Local Business Directory and app in 5 categories
Shop Local Campaigns
Inclusion in Shop Local Campaigns including Buy Local Month and Eat Local Month
Certified Local Branding
Use of the Shop Durham's branding and online marketing tools to align your business with the Buy Local movement
BONUS: Online Instagram Workshop
Instant access to Best of the Bull's Ultimate Instagram Workshop for Small Businesses
Membership
Certified Local
Free Forever
Shop Durham Card Offer
Simply create an unique offer for your business that Shop Durham cardholders can enjoy.
Choose your own reward!
As a participant, you agree to honor your offer to cardholders from the time you sign on through December 31st, 2022. Renewal is automatic every November.
Business Listing
Inclusion in Durham's online Local Business Directory and app in 1 category
Shop Local Campaigns
Inclusion in Shop Local Campaigns including Buy Local Month and Eat Local Month
Certified Local Branding
Use of the Shop Durham branding and online marketing tools to align your business with the Buy Local movement
Markets
Invitation to participate in seasonal markets to sell your products and promote your business
Join
Leverage Your Membership:
- Place your Shop Durham Member Badge window cling where all your customers & clients can see it
- Use the Shop Durham Member Badge on your printed materials, advertisements and website
- Add your business events to our event calendar
- Shoot us a note (with a photo!) when you use the Shop Durham branding & we’ll give a shout out via social media.
- Sponsor or underwrite an event or campaign, such as Eat Local Month, Buy Local Month, or member event
- Interact with us on Facebook & Twitter. We love to repost & retweet.
- Keep us up-to-date with your business news, happenings & events.
- Co-market or collaborate with other members, and tell us about it!
Why join?
The Shop Durham card helps the community get out and discover local businesses like yours.
You’ll get more loyal customers in the door, free advertising on our social media platforms, website, free mobile app, newsletters, and Guide to Durham series on BestoftheBull.com.
The go-to source for local
Thousands of locals have the Shop Durham card in their wallet.
We’re their go-to source to find places to eat, drink, shop, get their haircut, work out- basically, where to spend their money locally.
It's Simple.
Simply create a unique offer for your business that Shop Durham cardholders can enjoy. All we ask is that you create an offer that is clear and concise. As a participant, you agree to honor your offer to cardholders from the time you sign on through December 31st of the following year.
support the community.
We’re proud to support a number of local nonprofits like Duke Homestead, Scrap Exchange, Hope Animal Rescue, and many more with fundraising efforts.
When you add your business to Shop Durham, you’re also helping them by building the value of the card.
With Shop Durham, you're rewarding the customers that actually come in your door and spend their dollars in Durham.
You know you're reaching the right audience because they're passionate about the local community and want to support you!
FAQs
Although we would love to support all business owners, our focus of the Shop Durham program is only on locally-owned businesses that are unique to Durham or the Triangle area. If you’re a franchise or chain, there are still opportunities for us to partner together though on our Best of the Bull platform! See our Partner with Us page for more details.
Nope! We have lots of local makers, online shops, and run-from-home spots that are part of the program. As long as you are a Durham based and grown business, you’re in! (We’re sorry, we do not accept franchises) You can create a coupon code or accept the card at local markets.
Yes! Feel free to choose a time or day that may be slower. That way it will encourage cardholders to come at that time.
When you give a small discount it allows us to do free advertising for you. And you’re rewarding the cardholders that come in and actually spend money.
Say you do 10% off $10 or more. If 200 people come in because they have the card and spend at least $10, that’s $2000 – $200(10% discount) = $1800 in your pocket.
We think that’s a pretty good return for just joining Shop Durham for free.
Plus you’re giving them an incentive to come try your business and maybe even become customers for life.
Nope! You can apply to be part of the program anytime. We approve new businesses once a week.