Recently, we were talking with friends about the businesses on Bellport’s
Main Street and how some of them might be on an “Endangered Businesses”
list. It’s a shame, but in an economic downturn, the first businesses to be
hurt aren’t the larger “chain” stores. Instead, it’s the local, independent
shops, that give Bellport Village its unique Norman Rockwell look, that are
hurt. These are the shops where you can find the owner behind the counter
and where they know your name and say “Hello” when you come in.
These local businesses have a real impact on all of us because the monies
you spend in them, for the most part, stay in our community rather than
being whisked away to some other town, county, state, or country. If we can
keep two or three people working at a local store, they can then shop at
Wallen’s for groceries or go out next Friday to one of our wonderful local
restaurants for dinner. The money spent here, stays here.
This brings me to a wonderful idea I recently learned of, “The 3/50
Project.” The keys to the 3/50 Project are four simple numbers, 3, 50, 68,
and 1.
3: What three independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared? Stop in. Say hello. Pick up something that brings a smile. Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.
50: If half the employed population in the country spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 the employed 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 that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.
1: The number of people it takes to start the trend...you.
So how does it work? “Pick 3, Spend 50!” Choose the three local,
independently owned, businesses you'd miss most if they went out of
business. Make a commitment to spend $50 a month with at least one of them
or spread the $50 between the three of them. (If you can spend $50 a month
with each of them, even better!)
If we all want to protect our local businesses and keep them prospering into
the future, the onus is on all of us as, consumers and business people
alike, to do our part and support our small independent retailers. If we
support them, they in turn will support our efforts. It should be a win-win
situation.
Bellport.com isn’t immune to the present economic climate. In August we
began our 5th year of being “Bellport’s Hometown
Websitetm” and in each of
the previous 4 years we’ve lost money. Our only source of income is the
advertising that some of our wonderful local businesses place with us. We
get no other support other than out of our own pockets. When you’re in one
of our advertisers’ shops, please thank them for supporting Bellport.com. If
you know a business that isn’t advertising with us, please ask them to at
least consider it. That way, we too will be able to weather the present
economic storm. You’ll find all of our advertisers listed below.
So, what’s next? Pick 3, Spend 50, and save our local economy, 3 stores at a
time! It’s really that simple. And... tell them Bellport.com sent you!
If you have a comment and would like to respond to any of the above, we'd be glad to consider printing your response. Please send your comments to larry@bellport.com.
Click here to see the current comments below.
Thanks,
8/9/2009, Vincent D’Aguanno wrote...
Larry,
Thank you for spreading the word. Just wanted to emphasize that this is
money people are already spending, and not extra. Also some people get
confused with the $50 part. It is $50 between the 3 stores. Not $50 x 3.
7/30/2009, Cinda Baxter, Founder of The 3/50 Project wrote...
Larry, this is terrific!
Thank you so much for the great write-up, and for the enthusiasm exuded
throughout the piece. It’s voices like yours that make a difference....
Here’s to big things ahead for all the little guys out there!
7/28/2009, Jane Tierney wrote...
Thanks Larry for article about shopping locally. We need reminders every
once in a while.