Saving Main Street
- Steve Russo
- Jul 1, 2014
- 2 min read
Exploring the 3/50 Program. By Julianna Verboort.
The average Main Street has been hit hard during the economic crunch of the past several years. Signs of demise dot the streetscapes: going out of business; liquidation; closed for good. These sad messages reflect the struggle that many independently owned enterprises have experienced.
There are a number of factors at play:
The rise of online shopping. According to InternetRetailer.com, 162 million U.S. consumers shopped online in 2012. How can goods that are shipped to consumers contribute to a local economy?
Growing post-consumerism or anti-consumerism: Ideologies that discourage continual growth in purchasing and consumption of material possessions. Ethical, environmental, and social concerns bolster this trend. Consumers want to spend wisely and ethically; businesses that pay attention can benefit, supporting those consumers through ethical practices and sourcing.
Growth of "big box" stores and national chains. Consumers may be drawn to bargains (real or perceived). However, studies show that locally owned businesses provide more jobs and pump more money back into their surroundings than nationally owned chains.
What happens when we lose local, independent enterprises? Vacant storefronts can communicate decay and insecurity. Main streets lose collective vitality and begin to unravel. When national chains dominate the view, our towns look dreadfully alike. We lose local cultures, quirky idiosyncrasies, distinct identities, and we lose our local economies.
Enter The 3/50 Project, brainchild of Cinda Baxter, a retail consultant, professional speaker, and blogger. She tells the story behind the 3/50 movement on her website at
www.the350project.net, and it is a compelling read. The program's call to action is "Pick 3. Spend 50. Save your local economy." It is simple:
Pick three independently owned businesses in your community that you would hate to lose, and shop there each month. Take the opportunity to get to know the owners and staff, let them know that you appreciate their what they provide.
Spend $50.00 a month in locally owned stores. Per 3/50's website, "If half the employed population spent $50.00 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue."
For every $100.00 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68.00 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43.00 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.
Baxter has developed flyers and materials, available through The 3/50 Project website, and offers supportive, interesting information. She invites businesses to become supporters of the local-independent movement. The 3/50 website lists businesses in each state that are affiliated with The 3/50 Project (www.the350project.net/states/ID.html).
Brick and mortar businesses run by energetic entrepreneurs built the foundation of our economy. Independently owned local stores, restaurants and services are a big part of the American Dream, representing our heritage and values of independence, initiative, and innovation. By committing to The 3/50 Program, consumers exercise choices that can sustain the health of our local economies.
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