This is brilliant… MissMischief just tipped me off to the 3/50 project, which challenges you to take $50 each month and pledge to spend it with 3 different locally owned, independent businesses.
That’s $50 you’re probably going to end up spending somewhere anyway, whether on fast food, groceries, clothes, whatever. Why not keep it local? Spending your dollars with locally owned companies keeps as much as three times the money in your local economy versus what you spend with chain stores. That’s money that stays in your town to keep schools going, repair roads, and more.
Support locally owned restaurants instead of the ubiquitous chain restaurants and help keep local food traditions alive. Buy from local farmers and know exactly where your food is coming from. Find clothing and accessories from a local boutique and you won’t have to worry that everyone at the party will be wearing the same dress that they all picked up at the mall last week.
Supporting local business is something I’m really passionate about and have written about before. If you’re in New Orleans like me, check out StayLocal.org for a listing of many locally owned businesses of all types.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks so much for this, I will blog about it on our blog asap! THANKS!
When I first started seeing this around blogland I thought it was really good concept until you realize who is actually behind the project and that fact that she is really not big on home based business which many indie sellers happen to be.
http://alwaysupward.com/blog/vendor-promotes-home-based-resellers/
http://alwaysupward.com/blog/putting-etsy-to-work-for-your-store/
“The world knows my opinion regarding home studios (definition: individuals who purchase the same wholesale lines offered through retail stores then sell them out of their house)-—the bane of every brick and mortar’s existence. This isn’t the only “under the radar” competition you need to consider, though. How up to speed are you regarding Etsy?”
Anonymous (why so shy?), from what I gathered from those two posts, I don’t think it’s that she’s against home-based business entirely, or all Etsy artists. I think she’s against people who compete directly with brick and mortar retail stores by buying and reselling the same brands that those retail stores do but from their homes, so without the overhead of a traditional retail store. [Which I personally don't have a problem with -- it's a free market.] And as far as Etsy, I think her concern is with artists who are selling their work under two different names but at different prices (ie using one brand name to sell wholesale to brick and mortar stores and another name for Etsy sales, selling cheaper to consumers directly). [Which again, it's a free market, and artists can do that if they choose, although it does seem sort of a shady practice.]
Personally, I’m a huge advocate of shopping with local brick and mortars (whether retail or restaurants or other services) AND with local home based businesses. I don’t necessarily agree with all of the ideas of the 3/50 Project’s founder, but I still support the general mission of the project itself.
The 3/50 project is a great idea. Keep spreading the word. It is our duty as citizens to help our local economies. Thanks!
I’m in the dark. what is the 3/50 project about?
Can someone shot me an article or any info.
Thanks
Deborah
Deborah, I think my above post explained it pretty clearly, but if you still don’t get the concept you should definitely check out the 3/50 project home page.
I LIKE the project! I Think its BRILLIANT. LOL and whats wrong with Etsy…too many places for me to begin. I see nothing wrong with supporting actual local B&M’s (and local chains, i.e. Rouses supermarket, Abita Beer, etc) as well as handmade online. This is WHY MissMalaprop runs blogs like hers and why I run mine (www.handmadelouisiana.com) because we support ALL local businesses and artisans. I too have issue with ppl just pawning off chain retail items locally. I’d much prefer to shop from a local mom &pop shop then a big name store. Not that the big name store isnt any good necessarily but they already h ave their fame, their establishment, why not support someone who could really need it? And you never know by shopping in a local B&M you COULD be also supporting an ecommerce store? Some of my items are carried at the Education Station in Slidell! She sells various educational items as well as some of my handmade education items! So by shopping in some B&M’s you could be supporting BOTH! Think of the food?! Local food stores, health food shops, etc that carry local food…i.e. Ruby’s Health Food Store in Slidell carries a line of Gluten Free Baked goods made in Slidell only!! And she also sells online…so why not support both!?
I hate annoymous comments. drives me insane.
Ok I’m done… LOL I support BOTH ecommerce and B&M and the creators of 3/50 have every right to limit it to only B&M and as an Ecommerce seller, I do not feel offended!
~~Amy
BTW Mal, Ive already shared this around and its making its way around twitter and plurk more