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Support Your Local Businesses By Actually Buying From Them

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350_project_200x177A recent Facebook update from one of my favourite Vancouver shops (Narcissist) drew my attention to the 3/50 Project. It’s a really cool American initiative designed to strengthen local economies by inspiring the purchasing base to patronize local brick and mortar businesses (ie. instead of the corporate giants). Like many things American, it’s a concept that readily translates into terms that Canadian can understand. It’s pretty compelling and very straighforward…

Here’s Cinda Baxter, the woman who started the 3/50 Project, in her own words.

“The goal is simple: Ask consumers to frequent three local brick and mortar businesses they don’t want to see disappear, and to spend a very affordable $50 per month doing it.

… It’s about funneling revenue back into local business. You know-—the folks that pour money back into the community via commercial property taxes, payroll taxes, sales tax, and salaries (not to mention all that good will by way of volunteer time, silent auctions, sponsored softball teams, workshops, book signings, etc.).”

And the poster talking points…

350_project_web_panel

Seems like a solid concept with the potential for a great and happy outcome. Head over to the
3/50 site to read more. (You’ll find a list of members that includes some Canadian businesses).

The website got me thinking about all of the great people and businesses in Vancouver that make this city as cool as it is and how heartbreaking it is to ever any of them close down. I don’t think I could get away with spending $50 per month in every one of the shops that I would miss if they were gone, but I’m going to do my part this week. I’ll update you the following week on where I went and what I bought.

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There are 3 comments

  2. Thanks for the great piece about The 3/50 Project! Every voice out there counts, since the only way this works is if consumers remember to frequent the businesses that give their communities color and personality.

    Don’t worry about having to scrape up $50 for each of the three businesses; the message really suggests finding $50 of your current monthly spending that could be re-allocated from big boxes back toward independents. Most of us find that it’s a lot easier than it sounds once we stop and think about it.

    As for this being an American initiative, it is…for now. There are already plans in the pipeline to roll out a Canadian version in addition to one for the UK and Australia. The idea of supporting local economies applies to all of us, regardless of zip code.

    Here’s to big things ahead for all the little guys out there,

    Cinda Baxter
    Founder
    The 3/50 Project

  3. Yes! Let’s support local small businesses. And, “supporting” doesn’t need to mean “buy everything from”. But regular purchasing from a small business, or locally owned medium-sized business, can have a much greater impact on the business than it might on one’s household budget. C’mon… we were going to spend that $50 somewhere anyways. Let’s keep it close to home.

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