Area merchants need to cooperate

To the editor:

I own an antique mall in Chaffee, 12 miles from Cape Girardeau. I consider myself to be on the outskirts of Cape, and I advertise as such. No amount of billboards and newspaper advertising will help any of us unless we help each other.

I lived in Lebanon, Ohio, which was 28 miles from downtown Cincinnati, for 12 years. I was a member of the chamber of commerce and the Lebanon Antique Dealers and Merchants Association. I learned a lot concerning my own business. Just because you build it doesn't necessarily mean they will come.

We in the Cape Girardeau area are in a wonderful position to be open to day-trippers from Memphis, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Paducah. The Cape area has much to offer, including quality shopping, diverse cuisine and terrific lodging. And don't forget the Show Me Center.

The first thing we can all do to help each other is to network locally, meeting each other and encourage our shoppers to frequent our fellow merchants. Trade handouts, business cards, flyers, rack cards and printed discounts. It works. Not only is that a goodwill effort on each merchant's part, but it shows visitors we are knowledgeable and comfortable recommending our neighboring merchants.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce could reach out regionally to attract new members, giving it more working capital and a stronger business community -- each helping each other.

LORETTA MOHORC

The Picket Fence

Chaffee, Mo.