Renew Illinois Local.

In just one year, a community of local independent business owners and entrepreneurs has come together to support, champion, and celebrate one another. 

The Illinois Local family has achieved so much. We cannot wait to see what the next 12 months look like and celebrate our 140+ members.

  • Pop ups

    Our three pop-ups in 2021 featured a dozen member businesses and attracted hundreds of visitors over three hours. Pop-ups will take place in spring, summer, and fall in 2022.

    A woman in ripped jeans and sandals stands at a coffee counter, holding a cup, while a barista wearing a masked face and black shirt with coffee graphic greets her. Both are inside a coffee shop with a counter displaying coffee products and a large digital screen in the background.

  • Business Conference & Awards

    Our inaugural conference and awards attracted more than half our membership, as well as members of the public. We recognized four of our member businesses, as well as a supporter of the IL family. Our awards were designed and sponsored by our members.

    A woman with blonde hair seen from behind, speaking to a group of people sitting at tables in a restaurant or cafe. The background shows a wall with the sign 'Biscuits & Brunch'.

  • Newsletter

    Our members received a monthly member newsletter, welcoming newcomers, announcing IL events, celebrating the success of past events and activities, featuring six questions updates, marketing opportunities for members, and member news, offers, and updates.

    A graphic with a speech bubble outline in blue, containing the words 'Love Illinois Local' with 'Love' in red, 'Illinois' in white with teal outline, and 'Local' in blue, along with a white heart inside the speech bubble.

“My business has benefited exponentially from my IL membership! I went from having two to three events a month, to having 20 to 30 events per month, and needing to hire a new employee.”

— Kailey Weaver Owner KW Event Design

  • News

    Members complete six questions for a feature on our website. The news page is our most visited on the site.

    A man in a blue checkered suit, white shirt, and patterned tie, smiling and walking, with one hand in his pocket and the other adjusting his tie, standing against a brick wall with a potted plant nearby.

  • Coverage

    With our help, in 2021, members were featured on NPR Illinois, Illinois Country Living Magazine, Sweet Spot Living Magazine, and Prairie Land Buzz Magazine.

    A pink cocktail garnished with a slice of blood orange and a sprig of rosemary, served on a wooden tray with dried citrus slices, fresh citrus halves, and a cloth napkin.

  • Social

    We are active on social media, with posts on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. We keep a constant stream of stories featuring our members. We also encourage members to take part in takeovers of the IL social platforms, and we invite friends of the IL family to take over for a day or two.

    A woman is taking a photo of herself with her smartphone inside a bright cafe. She is holding the phone with both hands, capturing a mirror or reflective surface that shows her and the cafe's interior. The cafe features hanging pendant lights and large windows letting in natural light.

“My experience of Illinois Local has been incredible! Everything I’ve put in, I’ve gotten back, and then some.”

— Amanda Broyles Freelance Art

Illinois Local 2021 Photo Galleries

  • Winter 2021

    In our first collection, we kicked off 2021 with a photoshoot that featured IL fam members, Just the Basics Mobile Bar, Cured Catering, Johnny & June, and Serious Lip Balm.

    Photos by Abby Kate Photography

    A person holding a glass of pink cocktail garnished with a slice of blood orange, a sprig of mint, and a cinnamon stick, against a white background.

  • Spring 2021

    In our spring member collection, we worked with True Colors Floral, The Storyteller Studios, Troxell, Stephanie Cullen Design, Mod & Cane Furniture, Nothing Fancy Supply Co, Three Twigs Bakery, and Smart Owl Coffee to tell, in pictures, the stories of our members.

    Photos by Abby Kate Photography

    Man in red and black checkered shirt holding an Emmy award trophy, smiling, with focus on the trophy.

  • Summer 2021

    We crammed A LOT into our summer member collection. We took our shoot to Jacksonville and featured Green Haven, Closet 31, Blush & Beige Boutique, Bella Boutique, Jojo Earrings, Avenue 261, Flourish Flower Company, Itty Bitty Fashion Trunk, Flora Roasting Co., Mad Macs Bakery, Wild Lane Boutique, The Haberdsah, Out Town Books, One Knotty Maker.

    Photos by Abby Kate Photography.

    A smiling woman with long brown hair wearing a light blue embroidered blouse sitting in a wicker chair indoors.

  • Fall 2021 Coming Soon!

    In preparation for the holiday market, our 1st birthday, the holidays, and the new year we brought members from across the state together to celebrate their successes.

    Photos by Abby Kate Photography

    Woman sitting cross-legged on a white backdrop, wearing glasses with black smudges, a black 'Bewitching' T-shirt, ripped jeans, and leopard-print boots, smiling and pointing upward.

  • Directory

    Our directory is driven by the keywords you use in your business description. Other directory systems commonly use a set of categories. Our system is more intelligent and allows people to search via normal language. In addition you can list multiple locations.

    An illustration with a red hashtag, a blue location marker with a white heart inside, and black text that reads "# Love".

  • Photos

    Each quarter a photographer shoots up to 15 members. As we have grown so, have our shoots. In 2022 we plan to shoot at a different location in Central Illinois every three months and do two product shoots in the studio.

    A person sitting on a wooden floor with their legs extended, wearing white sneakers, blue rolled-up jeans, a green shirt, and an unbuttoned orange plaid shirt. Only the person's smiling face and upper body are partially visible.

  • Small Business Saturday

    Our biggest event to date, the Holiday Market at Knob Hill Landscape Co., takes place on November 27 between 10 am and 2 pm. Small Business Saturday is one of the busiest retail days of the year. An event where 30+ online and brick and mortar members come together, from across the state, during the holiday season is a testament to our thriving community. We are a proud Neighborhood Champion for Small Business Saturday.

    Logo with the text 'Shop Small' inside a circle, and below it, 'Small Business Saturday' on a dark blue background.