31 May 2009

Support the 3/50 Project


The 3/50 Project is a nationwide, grass-roots effort to save independent businesses that were already reeling from the incursions of the Wall Marts and the Home Depots of the world before the bottom fell out of the economy. The 3/50 project is really simple.

Here's how it works.

Pick three independently-owned businesses you'd miss if they disappeared. Stop in. Say Hello and buy something. Anything. Your purchases are what keep those businesses afloat.

That's the three part. Now spend $50 a month, every month at one or each of those three businesses.

If half the employed population spent $50 a month at independent businesses, it would generate $42.6 billion in revenue. Imagine the impact if 3/4 of the employed population participated.

Something as simple as changing where you spend the money you'd spend anyhow could change the face of the landscape. Instead of complaining about the demise of mom and pop businesses, why not do something to help them stay in business?

And if you need a little more convincing, according the the US department of Labor, for every $100 spent in an independent business, $68 stays in the local economy through local taxes, payroll and other expenditures. When you spend that same $100 at Wal Mart, only $43 of it stays in your local economy.

Think about it. If you'd like to participate, just do it. If you'd like more information or if you'd like to be listed as a supporter, the 3/50 Project has a great website. Check it out and keep driving the next time you see a big box.


4 comments:

  1. I agree 100%! I just wrote about this, and being president of our Main Street board, we need the small shops to make the street lively!

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  2. I saw your post on this last week and then I got a press release and it sealed the deal. This movement is right up my alley. It's been a a downright war to keep the chains out of our downtown. What kills me is that a lot of people think a downtown full of Carrabba's and Outback Steakhouses is a good thing. What kills me more is that people will wait an hour for a table to eat a Carrabba's rather than driving the extra mile to a real, independently run, authentic Italian restaurant where there's no wait for a table. STOP PATRONIZING CHAINS OVER IDYS ALREADY!

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  3. Thank you for posting this. This is so important to remember before you buy.

    A friend of mine working at a local furniture store said people will often say, "can you get me a better price? I saw it on the internet for less". What you have to remember is that if it wasn't for the little shop in town where you saw it first, sat in it, touched it, brought your husband back to look at it, had the help of a salesperson to show you other fabrics and options, you would not have known about this.

    Sure it may be a few dollars more. Local stores have to pay the overhead to keep the lights on, pay their employees, taxes and rent. The value of having the convenience of a local store is what makes this country great. Support your community and buy local.

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  4. It can't be shouted loud enough or repeated often enough. Buy local buy local buy local!

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