ATLANTA — Across north Georgia, BP retailers large and small are engaged in a campaign to distance themselves from the taint of BP's corporate image. Their message: Any move to boycott hurts local towns more than it hurts BP.
"Tell me about the bottom part of that sign," requested Channel 2 Action News reporter Jim Strickland of Hall County BP retailer Tom Bower.
"This is just an effort to let people know this is not a BP corporate facility," he said. The sign reminds passers-by the store is locally owned and operated.
SLIDESHOW: Local Owners Struggle With BP Boycott
Bower bought half of BP'S Atlanta presence when the company got out of the retail gasoline business more than one year ago.
"Our company employs 400 people. That's 400 families that are impacted if you go ahead and don't come to our sites," said Bower as he targeted his message to consumers boycotting BP over the gulf oil disaster.
Bower said sales are down an average of 8% at his 23 BP retail locations. He said it's like piling on. "Already with this economic downturn, we've been hurting," said Bower.
Tommy McDonald owns a single BP store in Newton County. He's lamenting a 5% decrease in gallon-age.
"I had a lady come in last week who said 'I'm going to buy your inside things, but I'm not going to buy any gas,'" said McDonald.
McDonald also displays a sign declaring his store is American-owned. It's been up for three years.
WSBTV
