Free Local Advertising in Saint Ignace, Michigan

Saint Ignace lies at a key crossroads in the state of Michigan. Located just North of the Mighty Mackinac Bridge, we're also stretched along the easternmost base of US2 West and Business Loop I-75. Home to an important state Welcome Center, Saint Ignace is a wealth of hidden gems for promoting your product, small business, or even larger, multi-million dollar organization. Here's a few ways you can use these services FREE.

The St Ignace Welcome Center

Probably the best place to start out is right at the Northernmost Edge of the Mackinac Bridge, where there's a Michigan Economic Development Corporation Welcome Center managed by Mike Lilliquist. Mike is a go-getter I've known since he first prepared whitefish livers for me in his old restaurant, nearly three decades back! This place is a vital stop for travelers from all over the state, the country, and even world-wide and considered the gateway to the Upper Peninsula. You'll notice there's a museum like quality to the place, so it's a spot where potential buyers take the time to linger and look around for things to do in the area. If you have brochures, business cards, commercial flyers, or even maps of the area to highlight your location, stop in and talk to the floor manager at the desk about how to place your material. Just last week, I stopped in and found everything from small, specialized stores like our own to handy, attractively packaged guides highlighting large arrays of businesses, hotels, and restaurants around the entire Upper Peninsula. The Center has material grouped by location, and there's also a few interesting items located on the desk and the shelving behind. One great thing about using this place is that you'll get first crack at potential buyers heading into town. Call Mike at (906) 643-6979 or visit on-line via www.michigan.org. Be sure to see the stuffed black wolf near the entryway while you're there! Every worker there is focused on helping visitors find their way to key destinations.

The St Ignace Laundromat

Now let's look at an interesting alternative: the City Laundromat located in the center of town, near the pharmacy. Many area residents, most seasonal workers, tourists and others use this facility. Anyone who's ever done a load of wash knows the time spent waiting at the laundromat is fairly mind-numbing. The St. Ignace Laundromat has a small alcove where people wait for the clothes to wash or finish drying. It's stocked with a small television, but more prominent bulletin board. This board is chock-full of ads. Some are simple handwritten notes by teens or adults looking to babysit or do yard care. Many businesses simply put up their business card. The material should be dated and is systematically removed after a 60 day period --so remember to replace your add and check in regularly. Talk with the owner or Margaret Peacock, who also manages the laundromat...just stop at the front desk on the right as you walk in, or call (906)643-8336. One note, the St Ignace Laudromat is closed on Wednesdays in the chilly "off-season" but is a hub of activity year-around, most of the time.

The Pines Grocery and Butcher Shop

Along the end of the Business Loop I-75, just before it rejoins I-75 about 5 miles North of the City of Saint Ignace, you'll find a small store and motel on the water side of the road. Check-in with the owners, Nancy and Dennis Goodwin at 906 643-9999, who maintain a wonderful community bulletin board in the entry way of their well-established neighborhood "trading post," located next to their Pines Motel. You'll be surprised at how many people from around town and around the state frequent this place. Not only can you attract Evergreen Shores (our local suburb) residents, but this site is quite popular with people looking for quality meat at the on-site butcher, their expansive party supplies, and mini grocery and on-site home baked good. It's a true Yooper business that's been around for nearly a century that I'm aware of, possibly even longer! If you're driving to the Kewadin Shores Casino from town or even via I-75, you'll see this stop, and the parking lot is regularly jammed-packed. I've had great luck with this location, as it's less than a mile from my own store.

Java Joe's Cafe'

One particular business, Java Joe's Cafe, does an additional service for its customers...promoting things to do, places to see, and interesting things available in the area. Stop in sometime, especially early in the mornings, and watch Java Joe Durm in action. He seems to find his reason for living in helping people find what's out there, and he's genuinely interested in people and their products. While he's not going to help if you're selling Parkay Margarine, he regularly touts businesses in and around the area. Many tourists end up relying on him for tips, directions, and insight into our community, so give it a try. Contact Sandra and Joe Durm at (906) 643-5282, but it's worth a cup of coffee to see what it's all about at this non-alcoholic, but super-charged and fully caffeinated watering hole!

Saint Ignace Chamber of Commerce

A more traditional, centrally located establishment is the St Ignace Chamber of Commerce and their downtown visitor's station. Located right across from the Star Line and Sheppler's boat ferry, toward the north end of the main area of town, this is another place where you can place brochures and advertisements for free. Although the main goal of the Chamber is to get you to join in order to work together to promote area tourism and businesses, they are very good at providing space for brochures and certainly do an outstanding job directing people to various businesses. Check out their location in person, it's an interesting and eclectic display of massive amounts of reference material...essential for anyone living in or visiting our area. Rod Nelson or Cheryl Schlehuber are at the helm online or by phone at 800-970-8717/906-643-8717 to answer specific inquiries, but all the members working in the center can answer your questions, too.

Area Hotels and Motels

Although there's too many hotels and motels to list by name in our little community, you'll find that a menu, brochure, or other advertisement in the hotel lobby or setting area is quite popular with tourists and people on business trips or educational seminars in St. Ignace. Be sure to stop at the front desk and ask about HOW they like the material offered, ensuring there is the right amount of space for your product. As an example, the Kewadin Shores Lakefront Inn is home base for many casino-goers and tourists. Their lobby and coffee area is a great place for free advertising. Check in at 906-643-8411.

Glen's Markets

Glen's Markets is also located right near the intersection of I-75 and US2, heading into town. As the largest community grocery store with expanded hours, it's the place people go for their shopping needs. In the front entrance, there's an extremely large bulletin board for free advertising. Once again, you'll see everything from hand-lettered signs for chopped/stacked wood in the winter and free puppies to permanent, laminated items affixed on their boards. Just try getting around someone who is reading the signs and know that if a certain product is wanted, this is the place to "check it out." Quite often, a small ad here (for free) outperforms the large amounts of money paid for internet or newspaper type advertising. Talk to Dale at (906) 643-9636 if you have specific questions about their policy.

Before signing off, I'd like to add two last venues to consider: The Cedar Pantry in nearby Cedarville as well as Doud's Market of St. Ignace, a brand new business currently under renovation in town, just opposite City Hall. The Cedar Pantry is especially valuable in attracting business from this lakefront community less than 30 miles from our Northeast, and their bulletin boards are massive. Doud's is bound to be extremely popular with Mackinac Island employees, local and Island tourists and business owners, as well as regular area tourists, business people, residents and other visitors. Doud's doesn't have a designated POC for this sort of thing yet, but stop in and check with the manager when they open. Follow the hyperlink to learn about their original market on Mackinac Island.

Some of the best free advertising you'll ever get is word-of-mouth from businesses you patronize or those who are working in a similar niche market. Get to know your fellow entrepreneurs and what they sell. Tout their work and steer customers their way and work together to promote one another. No two businesses carry the same products and customers find what they want, they're satisfied and thankful to the person helping. In our shop, Fort Algonquin, we sell authentic Native American crafts. Shirley Sorrells at The St Ignace Ojibwa Museum, The Fort DuBaude Museum, Jamica Diamond at the Keg and Anvil in Brevort, and Wendy Wagoner at Creekside Herbs and Art of Cedarville all work wonders to steer people to our shop. We make a special effort to return the favor and promote their businesses, artwork, classes, and special projects in turn. Cooperation is the key to successful free advertising.