Why BuyRKPT? You may think that it’s just a catch phrase, but let me explain.
“BuyRKPT” is a phrase I coined back in 2011 while a small business owner of a shirt and print shop. Struggling to make ends-meet in our small but growing town of Rockport, I often tried creative marketing slogans. During this time, I was an active Chamber of Commerce member and was surrounded by many other struggling small business owners. The largest common challenge was competing with big businesses online and larger companies from the Corpus Christi area. How could I emphasize the importance of shopping locally?
One day a friend and regular customer (let’s call him Tom) came into my store downtown and asked me to design and print oval stickers similar to ones he had seen on everyone’s car on the East Coast. He wanted one that said RKPT, and one that said FLTN. (He didn’t want them to feel left out). This was a simple request but very impactful. We did a mass production run of them, and Tom soon had them selling around town; the proceeds were then donated to a local veterans organization. Soon enough, I started seeing them on cars and trucks zooming around town and it made my heart swell with pride.
The stickers were available for sale at the registers. When someone would ask, “I would like to buy one of the oval stickers,” we would say “which one would you like to buy?” I am sure the hundreds of times I heard this, asked and answered, that it crept into one of my brainstorming sessions. Soon, I incorporated the idea of BuyRKPT into my company branding. Meanwhile I got involved with Shop Small Saturday, the annual Business Expo and serving on the Small business council for five years. My goal and mission was to help support small local businesses.
Directly after Hurricane Harvey, I had a huge decision to make. Ultimately, I couldn’t continue operating my small business, so it was time to return to the real estate market as a Realtor. I reflected on all the support and encouragement I had from our local community for over 10 years. The hundreds of businesses I designed for, printed for, made t-shirts for. The thousands of shirts created for the schools and events around town. All of the fun, sweet and amazing people I was able to meet and serve.
This whole concept of “BuyRKPT” was derived from those experiences. I made BuyRKPT my brand, not just for buying homes but to support our growing community by shopping at the local “mom and pop” shops. Recognizing the importance of shopping at Tackle Town or Seaworthy verses Academy or picking up a small gift at Songbird Chic verses Walmart. You are helping a local family not just a faceless corporation. Yes, granted there are always exceptions but my goal with “BuyRKPT” is for you to support these small businesses when you can. And of course, I truly believe that people who BuyRKPT are the happiest.
