Another shop in my neighborhood is closing! It's the second in a month!
Signs of the times all over the city include “Going Out of Business”, “For Lease” and “Tenant Relocating” notices.
That’s why I love the idea of the 3/50 project. It’s a program designed to support local economies and independently owned businesses, and believe me – they need our support. Business continues to be slow on my favorite streets in Sellwood and Westmoreland. I stop in periodically to talk with a few of the business owners with whom I’ve become friends. I’d miss all of them if they had to close up shop, and I know if not true for them in particular, it is not a farfetched possibility for some in the neighborhood.
The 3/50 project asks each of us to think about three independently owned businesses that we’d miss if they were gone.
That’s not hard – the wine shop, the gift boutique, the flower shop, the great place to run in and grab a prepared and lovely meal, are just a few I’d miss terribly.
The project suggests we stop in, say hi, chat a minute and pick up a little something that will make someone smile. It’s our contributions that keep those businesses going!
Think about the project’s brochure statement: “If just half of the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month in independently owned businesses, their purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.*” They go on to ask, “Imagine the positive impact if ¾ of the employed population did that?”
While imagining that outcome is exciting, I found this even more exciting, and interesting: “For every $100 spent in independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.” Wow! Let's keep it at home as much as possible!
Here's how the 3/50 project works: Pick 3. Spend 50. Save your local economy.
It only takes one person to start a trend, a movement. Could you get a bottle of wine from the neighborhood wine shop – once a month? Could you pick up two boxes of note cards from the little card shop down the street? (You know you want to send more cards to your friends and clients!) - once a month? Could you pick up a plant or bouquet for a pop-by – once a month? I’ll bet that’s $50 or close to it! And close may count – the merchants tell me that small sales do add up.
The 3/50 project’s tag line: “Saving the brick and mortars our nation is built on.” Wouldn’t it be great to be a part of that? I love the idea that we can make a difference by doing the things we normally do, just by doing them a bit more intentionally!
Let's stop the proliferation of going out of business sale signs!
*Employment statistics courtesy U.S. Department of Labor/Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2/6/2009 as quoted on the 3/50 project web site.
For Lease and Entire Store for Sale photos from Public Domain Pictures, used with permisison.
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