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Greetings!
We are happy to report we're hearing good news from our members about the local economy improving. That news has been documented by the study we sent out recently. Please read the article below that concludes among many other things, that businesses located in communities with a local first campaign are doing better than those who don't. We certainly have anecdotal evidence that that is true, but it's nice to see that it's true around the nation.
As a someone who doesn't own a car, I have loved the mild winter because it's easier to get around. Many of our business owners and CLF members have benefited by a higher volume of business because of no "snow days," not to mention lower utility costs and lower snow removal costs. Let's celebrate the good weather and improving economy by ramping up our campaign to promote our local economy.
I'm also excited to announce that Cambridge Local First will be offering a new promotional "every door mailer" that will be going out to 10,000 households in Cambridge. Keep an eye out for our soon to be sent email announcement about this new and exciting opportunity.
If you have any good stories or challenges that are important to you, please contact me via email at cambridgelf@gmail.com and let me know. I love to engage with our members and find out what's on your hearts and minds.
Locally yours,
Janneke House, Executive Director
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CAMBRIDGE LOCAL FIRST NEWS & EVENTS
One Week Left To Register!
Don't miss out on this important seminar
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Amy Carlin with Michael Kanter of Cambridge Naturals at the Employee Law Seminar last Fall.
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Harassment Prevention in the Workplace with Amy Carlin of Morgan, Brown & Joy, LLP Thursday, March 1, 2012 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: The new offices of CCTV in the community board room
Central Square on 438 Mass Ave. next to Economy Hardware.
Please register by clicking here
Cost is $25 and include a continental breakfast!
Harassment in the workplace poses serious risk to your business. Both corporate and personal liability can result from unlawful harassment. Learn how to prevent sexual harassment and other illegal harassment in the workplace, and what all of your managers and employees should know about keeping your business free of unlawful harassment. Attendees will learn: - How to implement a harassment prevention policy
- What conduct and behaviors can be construed as workplace harassment
- What the legal consequences are of harassment in the workplace
- How to develop internal procedures for reporting and investigating conduct that is or is perceived as harassment
Think Local Thank Local Raises $9,200 For CHAF
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(From Left to Right) Ilona Kuphal, Jean LeVaux, David Pap (CHAF Board); Rachael Solem and Jodi Robbins (Co-chairs of the Think Local Thank Local campaign).
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Cambridge Local First's annual "Think Local Thank Local" campaign to support a Cambridge charity had 40 businesses participate. The most ever during the 5 years of this campaign. The participating Cambridge Local First (CLF) businesses and their customers responded to the increasing needs of our neighbors, by donating a percentage of their revenues during the week after Thanksgiving to the Cambridge Housing Assistance Fund (http://www.chafund.org).
This is an organization that raises funds to assist the homeless and near homeless with the startup costs of securing permanent housing.
We're thrilled to announce that Cambridge Local First members raised over $9,200 for this important Cambridge nonprofit. It was possible to contribute the entire amount to CHAF because of the sponsorship provided by Cambridge Trust Company that paid for all promotional materials of this week long event.
"This is an important project of Cambridge Local First and our business members to be able to give back to the community," says Jodi Robbins, Chair of the Think Local Thank Local Committee.
Over 15,000 Business Directories have been distributed! 
The 2012 Local Business Directory has been flying out of our member businesses and retail locations around Cambridge. The directory is receiving rave reviews! Residents love the new features including Cambridge hidden gems, riddles, community resources, history facts, and most importantly: the message of building a strong local economy by supporting local businesses, non-profits, and keeping the dollars circulating around Cambridge.
We will be distributing another 15,000 directories in Cambridge beginning March 29th. If you need your plexi-glass case refilled, please let us know how many directories you'd like and we'll deliver. Thanks for helping make this issue one of our most successful directories ever!
Survey Results Are In -- The Buy Local message is benefiting member businesses.
Last month, we emailed a link to a survey being conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance in partnership with several business associations. The survey gathered data from 1,768 independent businesses across 49 states over an 8-day period in January.
This annual survey has found that independent businesses had strong sales growth over the holidays and appear to be benefiting from growing public interest in supporting locally owned retail stores, banks, restaurants, and other enterprises.
Among the key findings: - Independent retailers, which comprised about half the survey respondents, reported stronger holiday sales than the industry average. While overall holiday sales were up 4.1% in 2011, the independent retailers surveyed said their holiday sales increased 6.7% on average.
- More than three-quarters of the businesses surveyed said that public awareness of the benefits of supporting locally owned businesses had increased in the last year.
- Independent businesses in communities with an active "buy local" campaign operated by a local business organization reported annual revenue growth of 7.2% in 2011, compared to 2.6% for those in areas without such an initiative. ("Buy local" campaigns run by Independent Business Alliances and Local First groups are now underway in about 150 cities.)
- Looking specifically at retail respondents, the survey found that those in areas with an active "buy local" campaign reported holiday sales growth of 8.5% in 2011, compared to 5.2% for those retailers in areas without such an initiative.
Download the survey results hereSupport the MBTA - Put this flyer in your windowWe have partnered with LivableStreets Alliance to produce a poster that you can print and put in your shop window showing that your business supports transit and letting customers know about the upcoming public meeting on Wed. Feb. 29 at the Cambridge Senior Center (across from City Hall) about the proposed fare increase and service cuts. Public transit is critical to maintaining Cambridge as a livable city. Small business districts thrive because people can walk, bike, and take transit. The ability of our region's economy to grow depends largely on the efficiency and effectiveness of our transportation system. Regional projections for mobility needs by the year 2035 indicate that there will be a 7% increase in demand for our roadways and a 30% increase in demand for transit service. While public focus is currently on funding our current transit system, it is critical to recognize that the future of Cambridge relies on new and expanded transit options.
The MBTA faces a $161 million deficit in FY13, a problem not the fault of the MBTA but part of a larger structural problem with transportation financing across the Commonwealth. Without enough revenue from the legislature, the MBTA can only balance the projected deficit with drastic fare increases and service cuts.
You can use this link to send an email to your legislator letting them know you are a small business locally owned business and demand that the legislature take action to maintain economic prosperity. More information about the issue can be found at: |
CLF MEMBER NEWS
S+H Construction Receives LEED Certification
S+H Construction, Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the greater Boston area's premier residential renovation and custom home building companies, is pleased to announce a recently completed residential project in Cambridge received LEED-certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for achievement in green homebuilding and design.
S+H Construction is located at 26 New Street in Cambridge, MA. For more information, please call (617) 876-8286, or visit the company website atwww.shconstruction.com. Follow S+H on Facebook at www.facebook.com/shconstruction.
Boston Organics Begins To Deliver In Cambridge
Boston Organics is delivering boxes of fresh organic fruit to offices in Cambridge in order to help encourage health and wellness in the workplace. Office Boxes range from $29 to $45 and contain a variety of fresh fruits that are easy to eat in the office. Visit www.bostonorganics.com/office for more information.
Didriks Donates Portion of Sales To Food For Free In February Didriks, a retailer of outdoor furniture and home furnishings announced that they will donate five percent of in-store and online sales in February to Cambridge, MA nonprofit Food For Free. This will be Didriks' fourth annual campaign to benefit Food For Free, an organization that collects and provides fresh food to the needy. Please visit: www.didriks.com
Misspelling on Greenhalgh Gardens
We would like to welcome Peggy Lynch of Greenhalgh
Gardens. Greenhalgh Gardens creates and renovates gardens with input from owners which are pleasing, sustainable and low maintenance. For more information, check out www.greenhalghgardens.com.
Correction On Address for Super Home Repair
In our last newsletter, we had the address listed incorrectly for Super Home Repair. They are located in Inman Square on 156 Hampshire St. Owner, Michael Turner is an expert in home repair and renovations. For more information, check out: www.superhomerepair.com
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CAMBRIDGE CONNECTIONS
Call For Artists -- Community Supported Art (CSArt)
WHAT IS CSArt?
CSArt is modeled on the "community supported agriculture" programs that have flourished across the country for the past 20 years.
Like community supported agriculture, CSArt links producers - in this case, artists who are interested in developing a limited edition of an original work of art - with consumers who buy shares and receive three deliveries of art this fall.
INTERESTED?
CSArt is for artists interested in selling original works of art that can be produced in a limited edition of 50 and sold at a profit.
Artists who are selected to participate in CSArt will receive a $1,500 stipend. The challenge will be to design a product that is appealing, well made, and low cost and complete 50 pieces by September 1. CSArt will feature unique art, not commercial, mass-produced articles. That is what makes it special. Think about the difference between agribusiness and locally grown cucumbers.
HOW TO APPLY
Go to ccae.org/csart and fill out the form at the bottom of the page. Think about how your work will fit into a 12" x 18" x 12" box along with 1 or 2 other works. Be sure it is durable or, if not, that your plans include how the work will be attractively wrapped for delivery to ensure that it arrives intact.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: APRIL 7, 2012
Upcoming Workshops
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City of Cambridge
MarchQuickBooks for Restaurant Owners Do you feel as though you don't fully have your hand on the financial reins of the business? This seminar will present financial profiles of typical restaurants and discuss the challenges faced by owners in establishing internal financial systems. The workshop will cover topics such as looking at financial metrics to understand what your average check should be, break down elements of a bookkeeping system, go over sample transactions such as sales tape entry, drawer cash outs and more using QuickBooks. - Date: Thursday, March 1, 2012
- Time: 9:00 A. M to 11:00 A. M.
- Cost: Free to eligible Cambridge residents and business owners, $20 for others.
- Location: City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, 2nd Floor Conference Room.
- Preregistration: To pre-register please contact Rona Holmes at 617/349-4637 or rholmes@cambridgema.gov or call Pardis Saffari at 617/349-4654.
- Presented By: Center for Women and Enterprise.
Sidewalks that Sell Sandwich boards, sidewalk sales and outdoor café space are just a few ways to use the sidewalk to help promote and grow your business. Come learn the step-by-step permitting and licensing process to use the sidewalk in front of your store. - Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2012
- Time: 9:00 A. M to 10:00 A. M.
- Cost: Free to all.
- Location: City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, 2nd Floor Conference Room.
- Preregistration: To pre-register please contact Rona Holmes at 617/349-4637 or rholmes@cambridgema.gov or call Pardis Saffari at 617/349-4654.
- Presented By: City of Cambridge staff.
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SUBMISSION GUIDELINESDo you have news or an event that you want included in the upcoming CLF Newsletter? Please send a 2-3 sentence blurb by the first Friday of every month.
Articles and press releases can be emailed to cambridgelf@gmail.com
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Out of the Local Business Directories?
Need a plexi-glass retail display case for your directories?
Please let us know! We have distribution points for pick-up or we're happy to deliver.
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