Going Out of Business - is there anything you can do? Definitely!

 

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.