Noble County is proud to be the home of nearly 48,000 residents and 900 business establishments. Our small towns and cities, and points in-between, are dotted with locally-owned retail shops, boutiques, artisan studios, home-based vendors, restaurants, breweries, bakeries, and more. They are the inspiration for this blog, celebrating National Mom & Pop Business Owners Day on March 29!
It is this array of uniquely Noble Mom & Pops that prompted the launch of SHOPNoble at the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020. Like many fresh-air communities, many of Noble County's small and family-owned businesses faced significant challenges to keep their doors open through and after the COVID-19 shutdowns. SHOPNoble, a brand and marketing platform created by the team at Noble County Economic Development Corporation (now known as Be Noble Inc.), helped create and expand the digital footprints of local small businesses and was promoted to help give consumers a free, easy way to discover, shop, eat, drink, and hire locally and receive updates about changes in hours and services.
Today, the SHOPNoble directory features more than 300 retail shops, places to eat and drink, and service providers across the county. Follow SHOPNoble on Facebook for daily updates from local merchants. Take advantage of the latest food and drink specials, discounts, and special events! When you shop or hire from within the SHOPNoble community, over two-thirds of your money stays in Noble County and supports the friendly faces and families you encounter here.
In addition to using the interactive, online directory, the SHOPNoble website is also the place to go to purchase your choice of community gift card! Two options are available, both guaranteed to please and give back to the small businesses in Noble County.
A Be Noble community e-gift card can be purchased in any denomination, and be emailed to a recipient, or printed so you can enclose and mail or hand-deliver your gift. A plastic Be Noble gift card option is also available (with a longer lead time) in any denomination. Both cards can only be redeemed at small businesses located in Noble County.
Visit Noble County collaborates with SHOPNoble by incorporating the platform into the visitors bureau website. Whether you stumble across a recommendation on where to grab lunch while enjoying the county's Mural Trail, or want to plan your shopping itinerary, Visit Noble will help connect you to these exclusive, local resources!
Local establishments that participate in Indiana's Culinary Trails are also featured on SHOPNoble, making it easy to plan your day or week in Noble County.
Noble County's economic development partners place a very high value on sharing and celebrating the hundreds of unique Mom & Pop small businesses that are truly the backbone of our community. They add to our quality of life and we hope your experience is enhanced by the opportunity to discover, shop, eat, drink, and hire locally, too! If you really want to get to know Noble, start by exploring SHOPNoble!