Released December 8, 2008
AMES, Iowa -- Iowa’s rural economy benefits when a specialty product goes to market, instead of staying home. That’s the goal of Buy Iowa Online, a fully automated e-commerce Web site that brings together products from entrepreneurs in southwest Iowa.
Up and running in time for the holiday shopping season, the new Web site offers Iowa-made products from more than 30 local crafters, artisans and manufacturers, said Lynn Adams, an Iowa State University Extension community economic development specialist.
The Rural Development Resource Center (RDRC) is launching this new project to provide a no-risk sales and advertising tool to support the region’s rural entrepreneurs, Adams said. ISU Extension is a partner in the RDRC, along with Grow Iowa Foundation, Southwest Iowa Coalition and the Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development.
Rural entrepreneurs invigorate their local economies as they broaden their sales markets, Adams continued. Most of the entrepreneurs need product-to-market assistance; most can’t afford the advertising on their own. They can use this Web site to go beyond their storefront or basement — or wherever their business is based. Buy Iowa Online increases the “virtual” foot traffic to these small businesses.
What might shoppers start finding on Buy Iowa Online as sellers are being added? Everything from one-of-a-kind works of art to bird houses, purses, pottery, stained glass, furniture, baskets, dolls, books, photography prints and jewelry for both people and pets. In addition, the site will feature a variety of nonperishable food products, which may include jellies, jams, spice mixes, honey and soy products, and even beef jerky.
“You’ll also find community-themed items from nonprofit organizations like museums and chambers of commerce, as well as gift certificates from local restaurants and bed and breakfasts,” Adams said.
Buy Iowa Online is looking for a special type of customer, she continued. “We are targeting investors right now, the customer who wants to participate in a project that creates sustainability for the state of Iowa.”
She added, “By shopping on this site, customers know they are putting dollars back into rural Iowa and stimulating local economies. This is an economic development project that gives people an opportunity to actively participate and not just read about hoping for a successful outcome.”
With Buy Iowa Online, rural entrepreneurs can invest more in their local economy as well, Adams said. If one local entrepreneur can keep his or her storefront open, maybe three or four more will open.
Buy Iowa Online is a single member limited liability corporation with an e-commerce Web site, an Iowa sales tax license and a professional fulfillment center in New Market, Iowa, Adams continued.
At this point ISU programmers are adding the product information to the Web site. Eventually, the entrepreneurs will be able to input the information themselves, Adams said.
Entrepreneurs are responsible for getting their products to the fulfillment center, with each item packaged so it is ready to ship. If a customer buys a single item, the fulfillment center attaches a card with Buy Iowa Online information and ships it. If a customer buys several items from multiple sellers, the fulfillment center would place the individually packaged items into one box, add the Buy Iowa Online information and ship the complete package. The fulfillment center keeps track of inventory, makes sure products remain in stock and handles online sales 24/7.
Buy Iowa Online serves entrepreneurs within the Rural Development Resource Center’s 22-county area in southwest Iowa. To qualify for the site, products must be created and made within the region. Products from outside of the region qualify if they have an Iowa community theme and are being sold through an outlet in southwest Iowa.
Visit Buy Iowa Online at http://www.buyiowaonline.com/
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http://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2008/dec/120802.htm
Contacts: Lynn Adams, (641) 322-3184, adamsml@iastate.edu
Laura Sternweis, (515) 294-0775, lsternwe@iastate.edu
