Winston paws his way to highlight local businesses
BY KADIE TAYLOR
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — Winston is a local puppy who travels to nearby businesses in LaFayette every Wednesday as part of a LaFayette Main Street initiative to highlight local businesses.
“Winston is my sister's dog, so he is my nephew pup, and he comes to work with us at Harmon Insurance every day. Our customers love to see him when they come into the office,” said Harmon Insurance Office Manager Maci Gregory. “He greets customers at the door, and it's just so cute that we decided that since everybody loves him downtown, we should start walking him more and visiting local businesses.”
In the Winston Wednesday posts, viewers are given a clue of the business that Winston is visiting that week through hints within the posted image.
“We came up with a way to promote the businesses where Winston visits a different Main Street business each Wednesday, we take a picture of him at that business and I come up with a little clue about the business to give the viewers a hint of where he is,” Gregory said. “Then they're supposed to comment on the Facebook post what business they think he's at. We have gotten great feedback.”
Gregory said that Winston has become a celebrity within LaFayette with many locals recognizing him from his Facebook posts when he goes to different businesses and community events.
“People love to see his pictures on Facebook,” she said. “He was in town last Friday for the Christmas in July event, and we had many people come up to him and say, ‘Oh my gosh! There's Winston.’”
Gregory said that she enjoys working with LaFayette Main Street and seeing Winston Wednesdays promote local businesses.
“We love working with the LaFayette Main Street,” she said. “They are so supportive of us, and they're always there when we need anything. We can definitely see an improvement in our downtown district, not only in economic development but in the community as well. I think everybody likes the positive change that they're bringing with all the events and new businesses.”
To participate in the Winston Wednesday initiative, comment on the weekly Winston Wednesday post on the LaFayette Main Street Facebook page to be entered into a monthly drawing for Downtown Dollars.
“The people who comment on his post on Wednesday will have their name entered in a drawing, and once the month is up, LaFayette Main Street will draw names or do a little spin wheel and they can win either five or 10 downtown dollars,” Gregory said.
For those who would like to see more of Winston, follow his Instagram, @Winstonthepom, where his owner, Tori Harmon, posts photos of her pet pup.
“Winston is such a good pup, and he brings happiness to a lot of people,” Gregory said. “So just to be a part of something that makes people smile, and gives a little recognition to our businesses that they might not have gotten in a while. It's just really heartwarming, and I love to do it. I hope we can continue stuff like this in the future.”
Gregory said that she enjoys being a part of Winston Wednesdays because, along with promoting local businesses, she is a part of bringing a source of happiness to the community.
“With everything going on in the world today, everybody needs a little happiness and a smile,” she said. “When you can bring that in your local community, it touches the heart, because you know everybody here, and it is a small community, and when you're looking forward to these kinds of pick-me-ups during the week it's very special.”
