Once again, the creative juices have been flowing…which means The 3/50 Project just launched another campaign, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
It’s called “We Love You More,” reminding consumers that locally owned, independent brick and mortar businesses return (on average) 68% of their revenue to the community, as opposed to a paltry 43% from the big boxes and chains or (gasp!) nothing at all, from online purchases.*
To get the word out, there are two free downloadable PDF files on our website: [click here to continue…]
One of the bonuses to attending the A.I.R. (Advocates for Independent Retail) Summit is that we were among the first to see Civic Economics’ latest study, the Indie City Index. Based on their always-thorough methodology, CE was able to rank the top 363 metropolitan regions (not cities, since many MSAs are in extremely rural areas) according to how “independent brick and mortar healthy” they are. The more active and supported local independent businesses are in an area, the higher the score; the less active and supported, the lower the score. Here’s how the overall list shook out: [click here to continue…]
I’m spoiled rotten.
One of the perks to networking and traveling all year, focused on independent businesses, is that I get to visit some pretty stellar retail stores along the way. The happy memories are endless…All Good Things (Madison, IN), where real bubbles roll out from under the front awning…Man in the Moon Candies (Oswego NY) that continues a multi-generational tradition of selling “sponge candy”…Toy House (Jackson MI) that makes ToysRUs look like a wannabe…
Being a big believer in high fives, following is my 2010 list of businesses and individuals who redefine smart, savvy, and independent, doing it better than any chain or big box ever could. Please forgive the fact the list is incomplete; there were simply too many to fit into a blog post. Or ten. Or one hundred. [click here to continue…]
This is becoming a holiday tradition (she says, smiling from ear to ear).
Last New Year’s Day, I sat at my parents’ kitchen table in Nebraska, watching our 30,000th fan join The 3/50 Project Facebook page.
Last night, again from Mom and Dad’s kitchen table, I watched our 70,000th fan join the FB fold.
And today, I’m still bursting with just as much pride over every single independent brick and mortar business owner…every single consumer…every single organization and non-indie business who helped get us here. You guys are what fires me up, keeping me moving 150 mph on this path toward strengthening our local economies. If not for your perseverance, determination, positive reinforcement, and enthusiasm, well…. Our little “small business lovefest” would have languished in blog land after my first missive.
Thank you for breathing life into what we do, giving The 3/50 Project a voice, and being the amazing superheroes you are every day of the year. Talk about inspiration…….
Happiest New Year…and here’s to big things ahead.
Cinda
Did you spend at least $50 this month with three locally owned businesses while shopping for the holidays? Great! Now…how ‘bout we give you a $350 gift card as thanks for doing the right thing?
We’re into the final days of our “Small Boxes Big Rewards” contest, giving away ten (count ‘em, ten!) $350 American Express gift cards.
Pick 3, spend 50, get $350. How much better does it get than that?
Here’s the skinny: [click here to continue…]
Note: State sales tax is typically not paid unless the e-tailer has a physical presence in your state. In those cases, they’re supposed to pay sales tax, but don’t always do so. City sales tax follows the same pattern, but is even less predictable or reliable.
Click image above to enter the contest
You’ve heard The 3/50 Project chant: “Pick 3, spend 50.“ You’ve heard of Small Business Saturday, the AmEx initiative that created a day for independent brick and mortar businesses. Well, how about this:
Pick 3. Spend 50. Win 350.
Yeah. That’s right. Ten lucky folks will each win a $350 American Express gift card just for doing the right thing. [click here to continue…]
Just learned about this from a couple of retailers I met during The 3/50 Project Northern California Tour earlier this year. The fine folks of Willows, CA put on an annual holiday parade, which Holly and Dolores, owners of Gathering Better Junque, saw as an opportunity to remind residents to support their local, independent brick and mortar merchants.
Gotta tell you, when I put the graphics together for the Big Things campaign, it never occurred to me just how creative you’d get with the theme. From Atchison, KS Chamber adorning an entire stage in purple and gold packages to the Gathering Better Junque Danali (complete with a fully lit Christmas tree and our Big Things posters), well…color me impressed.
And proud.
And touched.
You folks are what makes the Project sing. Thanks for your glorious voices and unbridled enthusiasm; that’s what makes this work!
