I’m Leigha Baer, the woman behind Shop Local Buffalo—a little business I decided to start after I retired from a 20 year career in printing and marketing.

I recently returned to the Buffalo area after a 25-year hiatus and I’m so happy to be home again. I’ve lived in all four corners of the U.S. and winters or not, there is just no other place like Buffalo, NY! The sense of community here is what makes it so special. I haven’t ever seen anything like it anywhere else and each and every one of us should be so proud of this. While I visited WNY to see my family and friends as often as I could, I still missed it very, very much.

Now retirement isn’t for everybody and I think I’m one of those. I started thinking about all the things I could do in my “spare time” and I came up with something I felt I could do that is in line with my expertise (I can’t help but see almost everything from a marketing perspective), helps local businesses, and gives back to the community that I love so much, all while having fun, meeting new people and making a little side income in my retirement. I’m calling it Shop Local Buffalo.

I have started this small  business from my home in Depew, NY, and I’m dedicated to helping Western New York’s local businesses grow and thrive without breaking the bank. This means something personal to me. I don’t want to get all sappy on you but for as long as I can remember, I’ve believed in the power of community. Whether it’s supporting a local restaurant, shopping at a family-owned boutique, helping the elderly in the community, volunteering at a local dog shelter, or cheering on our beloved Buffalo Bills, I know that when we come together, we all win.

With my years of experience in graphic design, printing, direct mail marketing, along with some other fancier business growth strategies, I’ve helped countless entrepreneurs connect with their ideal customers. As a business owner myself, I remember how challenging it was to get new customers and I know firsthand how expensive marketing can be. That’s why I decided to begin Shop Local Buffalo’s co-op postcard program—a high-impact, low-cost advertising solution that puts your business directly into the hands of local shoppers and I KNOW this will help you because I’ve seen it help many other local businesses.

But, with that said, you don’t know me, so why work with me?

✔  Experience & Results – With my background in print, direct mail and marketing, I know what works to get your business noticed.

✔  Community-Driven – I’m passionate about supporting WNY businesses because I genuinely care about the people of WNY and seeing our local economy thrive.

✔  Trust & Integrity – I believe in honest, transparent marketing. No gimmicks, no fancy stuff,—just smart, effective strategies that work.

✔  Giving Back – A portion of every dollar we make goes to the Buffalo Bills Foundation, so working together means we’re supporting a great cause in our community.

I’d love to chat about how we can get your business in front of more local customers—and make it affordable for you. I’d like to work together with you to make Buffalo’s business scene stronger than ever!

Let’s talk! I’d love to buy you a cup of coffee and begin getting to know you and what your business goals are. Then, maybe we can work together if we’re a good fit for each other. No pressure, I promise.

If you’d like to reach out, you can contact me by phone at: 716-222-0699 or by email at: hello@shoplocalbuffalo.com. You can also visit my calendar page here and schedule a time to talk there.

I look forward to meeting you!

With warm regards,