3/50 Project

[Sandy Eggo]

Have any of you heard of this? What do you think?

3 - What 3 independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared? Stop in, say hello. Pick up something that brings a smile. Your purchases will keep these businesses around.

50 - If half of the employed population spent $50 each month in locally independent businesses then it would generate $42.6 billion in revenue.* Imagine the impact if 3/4 of the population did that.

68 - for every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend at a national chain only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing stays here.

1 - Number of people it takes to start the trend...you.

http://www.the350project.net/home.html

[Sandy Eggo]

More specifically defined, Independent means:

• The majority of the business' ownership is private, by employees, the community, or an area cooperative, and is resident to the community in which it's based

• The business operates out of a physical storefront or similar and is the only business residing at that specific doorway's address (not a kiosk, home based business, etc.)

• The business relies solely on its unique name and reputation (ie, does not "wear" a regionally or nationally recognized brand name)

• The business is registered only in its home state, and has no affiliation with an out of state headquarters or corporate office

• Full decision making function for the business is held by the local owner(s), including the name, signage, brand, appearance, purchasing, etc.

• The business is solely responsible for paying its own rent, marketing, and other expenses

• It has no more than six outlets, all of which are located in a single state, with a central base of operations in that state

• It is not a vendor (ie, does not sell wholesale)

http://www.the350project.net/independent.html

http://www.the350project.net/faq.html

[LOsborne]

I gotta tell ya, Sandy, I had trouble coming up with three independent businesses that are still operating around here, that I would miss. I finally came up with two bars and a pizza joint (which is also, technically, a bar.) Oh yeah, there is also a guy that has an appliance and electronic repair business that I like, but I don't have $50 worth of repairs to be done every month. Guess I need to up my consumption of beer and pizza.

[Sandy Eggo]

[Sandy Eggo]

You know, I typically put everything in the unmoderated section because anything related to "serious" discussion dies a quick death in the moderated section.

Any thoughts about the project? Do you have any favorite local indy....er...I forgot where my target audience is from ...independent stores?

I've seen the death of local hardware stores (thanks Home Depot), restaurants, record stores, pharmacies, grocery stores (thanks Walmart), discount stores (thanks Walmart), etc. What about you?

[The Troll]

You know, I typically put everything in the unmoderated section because anything related to "serious" discussion dies a quick death in the moderated section.

Any thoughts about the project? Do you have any favorite local indy....er...I forgot where my target audience is from ...independent stores?

I've seen the death of local hardware stores (thanks Home Depot), restaurants, record stores, pharmacies, grocery stores (thanks Walmart), discount stores (thanks Walmart), etc. What about you?

                                    

[LOsborne]

When I think about independent, privately held businesses these days, all that comes to mind is beauty salons. Which I don't patronize. (Y'all could tell, couldn't you?) But, oh my god, I actually work for a privately held business. Granted, we currently operate in six states, but my boss is the owner.  And there are four hundred and two hourly employees on the books right now -- along with a handful of salaried folks who work all the time. Only trouble is, we're a service industry. We don't create dipshit. So the odds of y'all patronizing us are slim.

My favorite independent businesses are pizza parlors -- Roca Bar, Crickets, Turoni's -- because we take our tomato pie seriously in the Devil's Playground. Around here, eating franchise pizza is not only self-abuse -- it's probably a felony.

However, there is one little tiny jeweler and watch-maker just off Main Street here in E'ville, which has managed to survive. I've turned everyone at the office on to them, and probably my gang is all that has kept them afloat in the current tasteless economy.