FAQs

Q. How can I get my business listed on ShopMainStreet.org?
A. Businesses must be sponsored to participate by a member organization of the National Trust Main Street Center. Please contact us to find out if there is a Main Street member organization in your community, or (thought maybe you would put the link to the page where you can search MS communities by state here). We are exploring ways for businesses to participate without a sponsoring organization. However, because our mission is focused on Main Street districts, all businesses will still need to be located in downtown or neighborhood commercial districts to be listed on ShopMainStreet.org.

Q. My downtown doesn't have a designated Main Street Program, but we have a revitalization program in place. Can we still participate?
A. Yes! We welcome any revitalization organization to participate in ShopMainStreet.org and include their local businesses on our website, however, your organization must be a Main Street Network member. This site is not limited just to officially designated Main Street programs. However, we will first verify that you are working in a traditional commercial district before allowing you to participate.

Q. Why don’t you accept small businesses that aren’t located downtown? I thought you were trying to support small businesses?
A. ShopMainStreet.org is an initiative of the National Trust Main Street Center. Our mission is to help community-driven organizations lead preservation-based commercial district revitalization programs. Because strong local businesses located in traditional or historic commercial districts keep historic buildings economically viable, we created ShopMainStreet.org to support Main Street revitalization. There are many other resources for small businesses that can help businesses that are outside of our mission, which include:

Q. You don't allow national chain retailers on this site - does that mean you don't think they should be in Main Streets?
A. Small, independent business owners generally have fewer resources and operate on a smaller scale than nationwide businesses. We recognize that both types of businesses are assets on Main Street and that chain businesses can draw many customers to a district. However independent businesses can benefit more from services like ShopMainStreet.org in order to remain competitive in the market place and continuing occupying commercial space in Main Street districts.

Q.  How do I write an effective business listing?
A. Here are some great suggestions to make your listing more compelling and effective:

Highlight what makes you special: Take a minute to think about what makes your business special – what do you sell that is unique or sets you apart from your competition? Try to think about your product offering from the perspective of the online consumer – why would someone chose to shop with your business? Highlight:

  • Locally made crafts or foods
  • One-of-a-kind works of art
  • Gluten-free, sugar-free, or other specialty goods that are harder to find
  • Items that reflect your local heritage, history, and culture
  • Hard to find merchandise
  • Items that are custom made
  • A particularly wide variety of specific items
  • Items that are made using traditional methods
  • The “story” behind your business (for example, family owned and operated for 100 years)
  • Free shipping
  • Special features of your shop
  • Selection of popular and brand name items
  • Variety of sizes (hard to find or special fits)

Be specific: A description that says: “Unique gifts” and “Elegant clothing” communicates very little about what makes your merchandise unique or elegant. So try to use adjectives to your benefit. 

  • For example, if you are a chocolatier, writing “We sell a large variety of handmade truffles” is less enticing than: “We sell handmade truffles made with the highest quality French Valrhona chocolate and farm-fresh cream and fruit from local producers.”
  • If your used book shop specializes in rare Victorian novels and will search for specific, hard-to-find titles for customers as well as features an online book club – tell them!
  • If you sell shoes, tell customers exactly what kind of shoes – do you carry comfort brands, children’s sizes, Western-style boots, European brands? If you sell jewelry designed by a locally known artist, say that the artist specializes in wire necklaces for women.

Try to avoid simply listing your inventory: Rather capture your specialty or niche and illustrate what makes your merchandise appealing and exciting. Your goal is to entice people to visit your site by connecting with them through keywords.

Examples online now:

Art Source International

Art Source International tells the shopper exactly what they specialize in and offer a glimpse into their community. This helps a shopper feel like part of the Main Street community even without ever visiting it.

Art Source International has been buying and selling antique maps and prints for over 28 years. We currently own and occupy a 110-year-old building on Boulder's Historic Downtown Mall. This mall has become one of Colorado's major tourist attractions, with a multitude of unique locally owned businesses and a variety of street performers and musical entertainment.

Outdoor Divas and Moose Mountain Trading Company

Outdoor Divas’ and Moose Mountain Trading Company’s listings share a bit of the shop owners’ personalities and tell the shopper their niche.

Women are not small men. At Outdoor DIVAS we live by this motto. Outdoor DIVAS is more than just a shop with a selection of “ladies models”. By devoting 100% of our space, inventory and energy to active women, we offer superior products and a selection of gear and apparel that is designed exclusively for women.

Moose Mountain is "famoose" for its outrageous selection of beautiful sweaters from around the world, including one of the country's most complete collections of both Dale of Norway and Icelandic Design.