“What three independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared?”
“If half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.”
“For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures.”
These three quotes sum up the premise behind the 3/50 project. Pick three independently owned businesses you would miss if they were gone, spend a total of $50 each month in these stores (not $50 in each, just a total of $50), and in doing so save your local economy.
No matter how much you love these stores, and how blessed you feel that they’re a part of the neighborhood, there is no guarantee that they will be around tomorrow. Unless that is, as a collective group we decide to make sure they are, and this is where the 3/50 project comes in. There is no fancy paperwork to sign (although you can sign up as a supporter of the project), just a conscious decision that you will do your part to help make sure these businesses are around for your children and grandchildren to enjoy.
Started on somewhat of a whim by “your friendly neighborhood Retail Enabler” Cinda Baxter, the project began to grow exponentially with the launch of a website to serve as a focal rallying cry. Now there are retail participants in nearly every state, and the number of supporters is growing at such a rate that it’s become a “gargantuan task” to get them all listed on the site. I first heard about it at the Loggernaut reading last night, when Dave Weich from Powell’s gave a brief intro to the project. On a side note, he also gave a preview to what his talk at the upcoming Backfence reading will cover, and suffice to say it involves a “cougar” in New York.
So you want to turn this economy around, and set it on a more sustainable course? You can start by committing yourself to the 3/50 project, and use it as a guide when making future purchases.
What independent businesses would you choose? Feel free to use the comments below to give them a nice shout out.
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This is a great concept and I have a feeling that many people living in Portland are already doing this but did not know it had a name! Why do I think that? Just look a how many farmers markets Portland has – over 30 last count; independently owned bookstores (lots); three food co-ops (Food Front, Peoples and Alberta Co-op); locally owned coffee and tea shops; clothes designers and boutiques; and the list goes on and on. But I know we can all do more! Thanks for getting the word out.
Helen,
I think you're right about people largely doing this already, especially in Portland. But I guess it never hurts to have a central rallying cry for the cause. On the farmers markets, it's somewhat sad that fast food persists in a locale that provides all of this natural bounty. "Convenient" and "cheap" seem to always find a way to the front of the line. I just wish people would rethink the full implications of those two words.
I love this idea! Although the economy has turned me into a miser, what money I spend these days I try to spend in local businesses. And $50 goes FAST!
It would be impossible to pick three overall, but my three for this week would be:
1) Collage on NE Alberta (although there is one on Woodstock as well, but I can walk to the Alberta St. spot) because I want to get some pretty artsy stuff for do-it-myself Esater decorations;
2) Kitchen Kaboodle for some house stuff I need. It would be easy to get the same stuff at a big box chain store, but I would really hate Kaboodle to go away — it's such atradition! and
3) Townshend Tea, also on NE Alberta, because I always need caffeine when I run errands.
Rose City Reader,
Collage sounds great, I'll have to check it out next time I am over on Alberta. Interested to see what next week's choices would be
I I am already compiling next week's choices! I have plenty in mind. And if I jump the gun and start next week's local shopping early, I'll let you know.
Oh — my mom bought an Easter ham at Wizer's in Lake Grove yesterday. You don't get any more local than that! Check out the 1929 picture on the home page. And the ham she bought was from Voget Meats in Hubbard, OR — the best ham you can find. Virginia hams have nothing over a Voget ham. And watery grocery store ham isn't even the same food product. (You can tell my family takes our hams seriously!)