The Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce's "Shop the 'Ville" took home the top marketing award June 3 at the second annual Baltimore County Commercial Revitalization Reception & Awards Ceremony, held on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
"I think it's wonderful," said Teal Cary, executive director of the Catonsville business group
She said 35 Catonsville community members were on-hand to watch the county recognize 11 groups and individuals with awards for their efforts in revitalizing Baltimore County's traditional commercial districts.
Shop the 'Ville beat nominees from Towson, Reisterstown and Parkville to walk away with the award for Best Marketing Campaign.
The year-long campaign was launched in December 2014 to encourage residents to shop at Catonsville-area businesses.
As part of the program, the chamber's Business Promotion Committee utilized street banners, signs, radio and online ads to promote the effort, along with tote bags and window decals, according to the chamber's website.
When a shopper brings their Shop the 'Ville tote bag into a participating business, the chamber's website said, they are rewarded with a discount or other benefit.
"It says a lot about what a number of businesses, when they work together, what they can achieve," Cary said.
"It's great validation for the work that they've done," she added.
Seven Catonsville businesses and groups were nominated for awards this year.
They were:
• The Children's Home was nominated in the Best Community Institution category,
• the Paradise Community Association was nominated for the Best Clean-up or Greening Project award,
• Catonsville Coldwell Banker office was nominated for Best Advocate,
• Catonsville Arts and Crafts Festival was nominated for Outstanding Community Event,
• Caton Auto clinic was nominated for Best Neighborhood Service/Retailer/Restaurant
• Erin Travis was nominated in the Young Entrepreneur division for her Trails and Tails Pet Care business.
Last year, the first year of the awards, which are hosted by the Baltimore County Department of Planning, Catonsville nominees won awards for Best Established Business, Best Service/Retailer and Best Young Entrepreneur. Nominations are made each year by local chambers of commerce.
Participants in the Shop the 'Ville campaign are Blue Iris Flowers, EmbroidMe, The Pottery Cove, Miss Fit, Oakdale Fine Wine & Spirits, Catonsville Gourmet Market & Fine Foods, The Hub/C'Ville Bikes, Poehlman Chiropractic & Nutrition Center, Paradise Animal Hospital, Dance Connections, Mr. Rooter Plumbing, Rutland Beard Floral Group, Bark! Pawsitive Pet Food, Cosmic Comix & Toys, Trails and Tails Pet Care, CrossFit Catonsville, Umami Global Bistro, Upper Chesapeake Insurance Agency, Objects Found, Catonsville Pharmacy, Ken's Old Fashioned Candy Shop, You Scream Ice Cream, Slow Burns Cigar Shoppe & Smoking Lounge, Edible Arrangements and Narcissus Salon and Spa, according to the website.