January 2011 Newsletter

Why buy local? A new grassroots movement wants to make it easy for you to answer that question by giving consumers some powerful statistics about one essential fact: you can save the economy and your rescue mission starts at home. The 30/50 project is a campaign to support local merchants. The concept has spread to communities nationwide and it's premise is simple: First think about three local independent brick and mortar businesses-clothing shops, food stores and restaurants, and for the home, independent appliance retailers, hardware stores, florists and garden centers.- business that you would miss if they were gone. Stop in and say hello. Pick up a little something to make someone smile. Your contribution is what keeps those business around. If just half of the employed population spent $50 a month in independently owned businesses, their purchases would generate more than 42.6 million dollars in revenue.

What started out at a passing thought by retail consultant Cinda Baxter late in the Winter of 2009 quickly spread onto main street and the 30/50 buy local project has over 8500 businesses participating and the numbers of American and Canadian independent retailers getting involved is growing quickly.
Most consumers are unaware that so much more revenue stays in the community when they buy locally. For every $100 spent at independents, $68.00 comes back through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. At a national chain the return falls to $43.00. When buying on line, from an on line only retailer, nothing comes back. Cinda Baxter is not wishing an end to the big box or chain retailers, as she acknowledges they provide employment in the community, but rather a balance.

There's another reason to frequent your local retailers: You might have a better all-round shopping experience. In a recent survey by Consumer Reports National Research Center, 25000 subscribers were polled and in terms of overall satisfaction, independent retailers were the highest rated retailers. Respondents were especially satisfied with the service, sales ease and staff knowledge.