Mile High Biz Blog

Spring is getting mighty close, and merchants are just about as tired of looking at their remaining winter clearance merchandise as you are of looking at the ice on the north side of your house. So use that extra sunlight to take a walk and do some shopping. 

Restless on South Gaylord Street
    Pine Creek Clothing, 1099 S. Gaylord St., 303-733-4848, and Barbara & Co., 1067 S.  Gaylord St., 303-751-2618, both are at the tail end of their winter clearances, but anyone with an open mind and a tolerance for broken sizes can still find some amazing bargains at these cutting edge boutiques. For example?
    At Pine Creek, the “everything $19 rack” includes pieces from See You Monday, Robert Kitchen, Tribal, Last Tango, Joseph Ribkoff and Insight, and the 75-percent-off accessory table includes Leatherock belts, Big Buddha bags and Pandora earrings and totes.
    At Barbara & Co., the lone rack at the back of the store offers 40 percent off the last previous discount on treasures from Elana Kattan, White & Warren, Joe’s Jeans, Cambio and Crea Concept.


Fine linen is only the start
    The 33rd Annual Spring Sale at The Brass Bed, 3113 E. Third Ave., 303-322-1712, runs through March 31st. Everything in the store — bedding, down comforters, bathroom accessories, towels, robes, bedroom furniture, tablecloths and nursery items, including special orders —  is marked down by 15 percent to 50 percent. 
 
Sock it to me!
    Don’t darn it. Put down the needle and thread and buy two pair of Smartwool women’s and children’s socks or two pair of Goodhew socks and get two pair free through Monday, March 15th at Sole Food Shoes, 6851 S. Gaylord St. #253 at The Streets at Southglenn, Centennial, 303-703-3855.


Dollar Days are here again
    All fall merchandise is at least half-price, select designer pieces are reduced by 75 percent, and many items are just a buck during Dollar Days through March 20 at the Junior League's Second Time Shop, 5042 E. Hampden Ave., 303-789-4055. Get a preview of spring on Thursday, March 11, when new-season purses, jewelry, shoes and other accessories hit the racks. It all culminates on Saturday, March 20, when store manager Ann Schnell will conduct the “Let’s Make a Deal” Backroom Bonanza. All proceeds help the Junior League of Denver do its work on behalf of children and others in need. 
 
Got kids? 
    ● Denver-based diaper bag maker Amy Michele has such a deal. A limited number of its extremely popular Pink Tulip Go Totes, usually $135, are being offered to regular customers and locals at just $40 ― and that includes free shipping anywhere in the continental United States. But hurry ― they’ll go fast. This deal is good only for purchases made through the website. Although all sales are final, there’s a one-year warranty against manufacturers’ defects.


Don’t buy a prom dress you can’t afford
    It’s prime season for prom dress shopping, and if you know any families who will have to strain the budget to buy a prom dress, please tell them about the Prom Dress Exchange, where more than 3,000 gorgeous, gently used and freshly cleaned prom dresses will be available between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., on Saturday, March 20th and Sunday, March 21st at Copper Fields Events Chateau, 4901 Marshall St., Wheat Ridge, 720-898-8388. No one will insist, but a $10 donation to defray the cost of cleaning would be appreciated.
           This is the 10th Prom Dress Exchange for Copper Fields owner Cheryl Wise, who knows that the need is particularly great this year. She wants to make sure every dress finds a proud owner.  So please help spread the word by printing out a few copies of this item and posting it on bulletin boards wherever high school girls or their families might see it.           Janet Simons, author of the Colorado Smart Shopper, blogger of     Best Colorado Deals, and veteran Rocky Mountain News shopping columnist discusses her New Year's resolutions to integrate more local shopping into her life. Exerpt taken from the BestColoradoDeals.com newsletter, a publication dedicated to independe   nt shoppers and retailers. Spread the word about the great deals you’ve found at locally owned retailers by sending an e-mail to Janet@bestcoloradodeals.com.

 

Are you a new member of the Mile High Business Alliance and want to know how to take full advantage of your membership in the coming year? Maybe you have been a supporter for a while, but feel like you could be getting more out of your participation?  Do you just need some help sprucing up your Colorado Local First Directory Profile?

 

Join us for our first Member Orientation Event to connect with other business members as well as receive support from the MHBA team! Find out how to maximize your membership & get the most out of your ColoradoLocalFirst.com business listing.

 

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At this event, you will:

• Become educated on the Colorado Local First campaign.
• Learn how to leverage your MHBA membership to get more promotion for your business!
• Increase your business' visibility online and within the local community.
• Find out how to leave reviews for your business & others.
• Discover more opportunities for networking and doing business with other members in 2010.
• Meet the lovely faces behind the MHBA as well as other member organizations

We have a lot planned for you, but it's not all business. You'll get to enjoy some delicious local cuisine and quench your thirst with an assortment of tasty beverages.

  Date & Time Monday, March 15th 5:30pm - 7:30pm   Location
MHBA Office 1290 Williams St. Room 103
Denver, CO 80218
  Registration http://mhbamembers.eventbrite.com/   **This is a free event, meant for Mile High Business Alliance members only.** *Attendees, please try to bring a laptop.*  

Date & Time:  Mon, 04/12/2010 - 5:30pm - 8:00pm  
Connecting local artists & local retailers Presented by the Mile High Business Alliance & Create Denver   This event seeks to facilitate the connection between local artists and local retailers. We will be providing support and information on how to sell local art in a local store while simultaneously addressing the business owners' side of the equation on how one goes about obtaining art to be displayed at their company.   And of course, we will be celebrating the local art community as well as local art within local business.     Tenative Schedule • Happy Hour with local food & drink • Welcome / Introduction • Panel Discussion: Increasing local art in local stores (45 mins)      o Fancy Tiger, Caboodle, IndyInk • More networking
Partners / Co-Hosts: Artwork Network, Denver Handmade Alliance, Create Denver   Date & Time Monday, April 12th 5:30pm - 8pm   Location Artwork Network 878 Santa Fe Drive Denver, CO 80204   Registration $10 for members of the MHBA, Artwork Network, & the Denver Handmade Alliance $20 for non-members $5 more at the door! Register now to save!  
 

 

Sample Colorado's goods for kids

            Did you know the world-famous Boppy was created by a Colorado mompreneur? Dozens of products for parents and children created and manufactured by local moms and dads are discounted by 30 percent to 80 percent at the Congrats from Colorado Sample Sale, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 27, at Ambajam, 3457 Ringsby Court, Taxi 2, 303-691-2236. We couldn’t find a list of firms participating in this sale, but previous participants have included Alpha Buddies, Ambajam, Baby Candy, Belle Baby Carriers, Boppy, Bruz Wear, The Bump, Funky Monkey Thread, Katy Tartakoff Photography, Memory Divas, My Favorite Bows; Oh, That Baby; Oshie Vintage, ShadyBaby and Sycamore Kids.

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            For more information, Google those companies or go to www.congratsfromcolorado.com.

 

Fine linen is only the start

            Technically, the annual storewide sale at the Brass Bed, 3113 E. Third Ave., 303-322-1712, doesn’t start until Monday, March 1, when everything in the store — whether it’s on the sales floor or special ordered — will be marked down by 15 percent to 50 percent. The sale runs through March 30.

            However, selected items among the store’s bedding, down comforters, bathroom accessories, towels, robes, bedroom furniture, tablecloths and nursery items already are discounted, and this would be a great time to preview merchandise so you’re ready at rope drop at 9:30 a.m. next Monday.

 

Get your bras more than half off

            Selected bras originally priced at $70 to $100 are $20 apiece or two for $35 through March 15 at Pampered Passions Fine Lingerie, 9615-D E. County Line Road, Englewood, 1-888-775-4643. No other coupons or discounts can be used in conjunction with this sale.

 

Wizard celebrates blizzard

            Clearance and overstock toys, games and costumes are reduced by 25 percent to 60 percent through March 15 at The Wizard’s Chest, 230 Fillmore St., 303-321-4304.

 

Whether you’re spurning wheat...

            Owners Michael and Marcy Schreiber have opened their annual Passover Store at the East Side Kosher Deli, 499 S. Elm St., 303-322-9862, www.eastsidekosherdeli.com, offering the largest selection of kosher-for-Passover products between Kansas City and Los Angeles.

            This year’s new crop of chometz-free products includes Chinese sauces, nut-flavored oils, almond butter, cashew butter and marshmallow fluff.

            Anyone who has a problem with corn, wheat or soy stands a good chance of finding something new and delicious to eat. But demand for Passover food has grown hugely as the public has become more aware of food sensitivities, so you’re going to want to shop early for a good selection. If you want shmurah matzah for your Seder table, you should get that right away, too.

            Ashkenazi (Western) Jews don’t eat corn during the holiday, so you can find soda pop, syrups, sauces and salad dressings  made with sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup, corn-oil-free margarine and other prepared foods made without the ubiquitous yellow grain. If your problem is with wheat, you’ll find lots of options, but steer clear of anything that lists matzah or matzah meal in its ingredient list — that’s wheat. East Side also stocks matzah made from oats and spelt that works for many, but please be aware that many people with gluten sensitivities experience serious reactions to those grains.

            East Side also offers a wide selection of table-ready kosher-for-Passover items, including soups, entrees, side dishes, horseradish, horosetz — even fully appointed Seder plates.

 

....or embracing it

            Enthusiastic organic bakers will love the new Colorado Easy biscuit and cookie mixes made with locally grown and milled organic whole-wheat and unbleached flour. For a limited time, Colorado Easy founder Terri Claus is offering $50 club memberships that entitle members to buy a 5-pound bag of flour for just $1 monthly and offer similar bargains on baking mixes. But wait! There’s more. Club members also receive a free Italian glass wire-bail jar while supplies last.

            Colorado Easy products are available at the Denver Urban Homesteading Indoor Farmers' Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, 200 Santa Fe Drive. For more information, go to coloradoeasymix.vpweb.com or call 303-748-0653.

 

 

 

 

Janet Simons, author of the Colorado Smart Shopper, blogger of Best Colorado Deals, and veteran Rocky Mountain News shopping columnist discusses her New Year's resolutions to integrate more local shopping into her life. Exerpt taken from the BestColoradoDeals.com newsletter, a publication dedicated to independent shoppers and retailers.   Spread the word about the great deals you’ve found at locally owned retailers by sending an e-mail to Janet@bestcoloradodeals.com.

Rocky Mountain Harmony Sweepstakes ALL-VOCAL SHOW WITH 8 BANDS  
Do you watch “Glee” and “The Sing Off”? See the premier American showcase for contemporary a cappella  & vocal harmony music that inspired “The Sing Off”…live in Denver! Hosted by 2009 Regional Champs MouthBeats, this year’s show features competing groups Clearly Vocal (TX), Confidential (CO), Cool Shooz (CO), Mountain Blue (UT), The UCD 6 (CO), VoxBom (CO), and Wonder Voice (CO).

 

The A Cappella Foundation Presents the

21st Annual Rocky Mountain Harmony Sweepstakes

No instruments. Just Voices.

 
When
March 13, 2010, 7pm

Where Colorado Heights University Theater (formerly Teikyo Loretto Heights)
3001 S. Federal Blvd., Denver, CO 80236
 
Buy Tickets
Tickets available at TicketsWest.com and King Soopers locations

After Party Hops, 8026 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton, CO 80123.

 

The winning group from this regional competition will be flown to perform in front of celebrity judges and a sold-out house of enthusiastic a cappella fans at the National Finals in May in San Rafael, CA.

  The polls are open, folks! Let's show these two publications that our favorite businesses are local businesses! Whether you're a sucker for SOBO 151 or go gaga for Gallagher Books, make your opinion known while simultaneously showing support for the local economy.    

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The Westword The 27th annual Best Of Denver issue of the Westword is hitting the shelves on April 1st. Vote now online for your favorites (until March 22nd).   5280 (Magazine) For the past 12 years, 5280 has been publishing the Top of the Town. It's the must-have list to the very best in Denver. Who do you think should be top dog? Let your voice be heard here.  

Today, I came across this adorable slide show that featured 20 Local First organizations. It's quite appropriately titled Buy-Local Campaigns Help Beat Recession. Here's a brief overview by BusinessWeek's John Tozzi:

  Convincing Customers to Buy Local

Buy-local campaigns have sprouted in scores of communities over the last decade. Typically organized by nonprofit networks of entrepreneurs, the idea is to convince consumers to spend their money at independent businesses in their own communities. The number of these campaigns has roughly doubled since 2005, and an estimated 25,000 businesses now participate in some local business alliance, says Stacy Mitchell, author of Big-Box Swindle and a senior researcher at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit. Many of these alliances begin as marketing efforts to promote local shopping but expand to play roles in influencing government policy or promoting sustainable business practices. Here's a look at some of the most established and active buy-local groups and what they've achieved.

Read more, see the slideshow, & oogle over the creative logos!

February 12th 2010 By: John Tozzi   From Cleveland to Tempe, economic developers are convincing institutions with big spending power to shift more dollars to small businesses in their communities.

 

"Buy local" campaigns normally encourage consumers to shop at small downtown stores—the funky café, indie bookseller, or boutique grocer. Getting big institutions to switch to local suppliers has rarely been part of the equation.

But small business groups and economic developers are beginning to push big buyers like governments, universities, and hospitals to see what goods and services they can purchase locally. Advocates say a small shift in spending by these organizations can yield a profound benefit for small businesses in their communities.

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In Cleveland, some of the city's largest institutions have committed to buying more of their goods and services from local suppliers. The plan, five years in the making, aims to build new businesses, jobs, and long-term wealth in the low-income neighborhoods that surround the Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University, and University Hospitals, a four-square-mile area known as Greater University Circle. Together, those institutions purchase $3 billion annually in goods and services, and most of that money leaves the neighborhood where their campuses are. Redirecting 10% of that spending into neighborhood businesses would inject $300 million into an area where the median household income is $18,000 a year.

Worker-Owned Co-Ops

Economic developers from the nonprofit Cleveland Foundation approached these so-called anchor institutions in 2005 to see what it would take to steer more spending to local businesses. "We realize that in this neighborhood right now there are not businesses that have the capacity to meet these needs," Lillian Kuri, a program director at the Cleveland Foundation, recalls saying. Working with the anchors, the Cleveland Foundation developed ideas for a series of environmentally friendly, worker-owned cooperative businesses they could start in the inner city to serve neighboring institutions and others in the region.

Each venture aims to get a commitment of about half of its target revenue from the anchor institutions at the outset. The first of these, Evergreen Cooperative Laundry, opened in October to clean some 12 million pounds of bed linens and towels from hospitals and nursing homes each year. (The Cleveland Clinic alone does close to double that each year.) The business was capitalized with $5.8 million in funds from the city of Cleveland, bank loans, and contributions from the Evergreen Cooperative Development Fund. That was set up by the Cleveland Foundation and the anchor institutions to seed the co-op businesses, which, once profitable, must return 10% of their profits to the fund to create future ventures.

The worker co-op model helps employees build long-term wealth through equity in the company. The green aspects of the businesses appeal to clients' interest in reducing carbon emissions—a priority for many institutions like colleges and hospitals. (The laundry, for example, uses energy-efficient washing, drying, and ironing systems and occupies a LEED-certified building.) Two other nascent ventures follow the same model. Ohio Solar Cooperative installs rooftop solar panels, and Green City Growers, to launch this year, will farm local food in a hydroponic greenhouse on 10 acres in Cleveland. When fully running, they're each expected to employ 50 people recruited from the neighborhood. Plans for other businesses are in the works.

Competitive Bidding Factor

Evergreen Cooperative Laundry is on track to turn a profit within 18 months of launching, says CEO Jim Anderson. Everyone involved agrees that the enterprises must be profitable to succeed.

"This isn't a charity program, and I think if it was, it wouldn't be sustainable," says Steven Standley, chief administrative officer for University Hospitals.

Standley says the hospital group tries to use local vendors whenever possible. In a $1.2 billion construction project that began in 2005, 90% of the funds have been spent in northeast Ohio. University Hospitals uses competitive bidding to award contracts, but Standley says factors like a higher level of service, the location of a supplier, or a commitment to diversity can sway a contract toward a vendor that doesn't have the absolute lowest price.

That consideration is growing at other institutions as well. "Where one provider may be very close in price to another, then we might look to our broader interests," says Oliver Henkel, the Cleveland Clinic's chief government relations officer. "There are residual benefits to us that can't necessarily be quantified."

Officials at all three institutions involved in the Cleveland project point out that it's in their interest to foster new businesses, jobs, and wealth in their communities. Economic development can make the neighborhoods more attractive places for staff to live, and, in the case of hospitals, improve the health and security of the people they serve.

Local Office Supplies

It's not just nonprofits embracing the idea, either. Last year, Arizona's largest electrical company, APS, sought a new office-supply provider in an effort to lower costs. The $1.5 million contract went to Wist Office Products, a family-owned Tempe firm with 60 employees and $15 million in revenue. Wist outbid national competitors like OfficeMax (OMX), Office Depot (ODP), and APS's previous vendor, Corporate Express, which is now part of Staples (SPLS).

APS, the main subsidiary of publicly traded Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (PNW), spends $1.5 billion annually on outside purchases, and one-third of that goes to 1,500 vendors in Arizona, says Tammy McLeod, vice-president and chief customer officer at APS. "The tangible benefit of making a local business more successful is they probably become a better customer of ours," McLeod says.

In addition to the APS contract, Wist is doing brisk business with dozens of school districts and municipalities that want to buy from local firms rather than the single supplier available through Arizona's statewide contract. "We have to be lowest or most cost-effective, so there's no favors given, but in the grand scheme I believe they … say this is a good thing for our community," says Ian Wist, the company's general manager.

Such principles support the long-standing practice of giving public contracting preferences to businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, or other disadvantaged groups. Some 27 states also have preferences for using local vendors, according to a 2009 survey by the National Association of State Procurement Officials. More states and local governments have adopted such policies during the downturn in efforts to bolster their economies, says Jack Gallt, NASPO association director. Local purchasing preferences can backfire, however, when companies try to land out-of-state contracts. "They're penalized for not being an in-state company somewhere else," Gallt says.

Indeed, contracts going to the Evergreen businesses in Cleveland have to come from somewhere else. But as long as the businesses offer competitive value vs. their existing suppliers, the Greater University Circle institutions would just as soon spend their money in their own backyard. John Wheeler, a former corporate lawyer who is now vice-president for administration at Case Western, says he fully supports the plan but was skeptical of the idea at first. "Do you think a bunch of do-gooders can create entrepreneurs in these neighborhoods? I've got to see it to believe it," he says. "To the extent it can be a success, it is truly a formula for providing a dramatic amount of economic development. … The capacity here for a market is huge, absolutely huge."

Read the original article here.

Prom dresses, $10
          If you know any families who will have to strain the budget to buy a prom dress, please tell them about the Prom Dress Exchange, where more than 3,000 gorgeous, gently used and freshly cleaned prom dresses will be available between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., on Saturday, March 20, and Sunday, March 21, at Copper Fields Events Chateau, 4901 Marshall St., Wheat Ridge, 720-898-8388. No one will insist, but a $10 donation to defray the cost of cleaning would be appreciated.
           This is the 10th Prom Dress Exchange for Copper Fields owner Cheryl Wise, who knows that the need is particularly great this year. She wants to make sure every dress finds a proud owner.  So please help spread the word by printing out a few copies of this item and posting it on bulletin boards wherever high school girls or their families might see it.

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Bridal gowns, $100 to $200

            Where can you find a bridal gown for $200 or less? Here are three places.

            HospiceCare & Share Thrift Shop, 5290 Arapahoe Ave. Boulder, 303-604-5353

            Vintage, designer and contemporary bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses are available in a full range sizes, and no dress is more than $99 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Monday, Feb. 22. Assistance with fitting is available until 2 p.m. daily.

            Puttin’ on the Ritz, 1446 S. Colorado Blvd., 303-759-4398.

            New-with-tags wedding gowns from Oleg Cassini, Maggie Sotero, Vera Wang and other prominent designers are $50 to $149.

            Ultra-Legs, 3444 S. Broadway, 303-761-3705.

            Consignment  wedding dresses straight off the racks of David’s Bridal are $199 apiece.

 

Stretched canvases, 70 percent off
          The winter clearance sale runs through Sunday, Feb. 21, at H.R. Meininger Art Supply, 499 Broadway, 303-698-3838, one of Colorado’s oldest independent businesses. Featured deals include 40 percent discounts on Winsor & Newton brushes; 50 percent discounts on oils, watercolors and acrylics; and 70 percent discounts on Art Alternatives stretched canvases. For more information, go to Meininger.com and download the sales flyer.

 

Women’s suits, three for $25

            Most fall and winter clothes are $5 apiece or three for $10, pant and skirt suits are three for $25, and designer items are reduced by 75 percent through March 20 at the Junior League's Second Time Shop, 5042 E. Hampden Ave., 303-789-4055. All proceeds will help the Junior League do its work on behalf of children and others in need.

 

Clothing for men, women and children, $3 a bag
            All clothing from the racks is $3 a grocery bag full on Friday, Feb. 19, and Saturday, Feb. 20, at The Neighborly Thrift Shop, 3360 S. Broadway, Englewood, 303-789-1443. Proceeds help support after-school programs in Englewood and the House of Hope, a women’s shelter.

 

Columbia jackets, $20 to $50
            All fall and winter clothing for men and women is reduced by 50 percent to 75 percent until it’s gone at Dress for Less Clothiers, 3045 S. Broadway, Englewood, 303-761-0560. Labels include Columbia, Brooks Brothers, Joseph Abboud, Perry Ellis, Anne Taylor and Talbots.

 

Cashmere, $15
            Everything is half price this week during the winter clearance at the Assistance League Thrift Shop, 1331 E. Colfax Ave., 303-861-2122. The store’s goods range from designer cashmere, reduced from $30 to $15, to pillowcases and spoons, reduced from 50 cents to a quarter. Prices will continue to drop through the store’s spring switchover on March 27, but those who hesitate may miss some great merchandise.

 

Clearance prices on winter footwear
            Prices on winter comfort shoes and boots from such makers as Munroe, Naot, Mephisto, Dansko, Blondo, Keen and Finn Comfort are reduced by 25 percent to 50 percent through Feb. 21 at Dardano’s Footwear, 1550 S. Colorado Blvd., 303-692-9355.

            At Sole Foods, 6851 S. Gaylord Street #253, in the Streets at Southglenn, 303-703-3855, the fall and winter clearance features discounts of up to 70 percent on winter shoes and boots from Ugg, Tsubo, Gentle Souls, Patagonia, OTBT, Matisse, Franco Sarto, Haflinger, The North Face, Sorel and more. The clearance continues until all winter stock is sold.

 

Janet Simons, author of the Colorado Smart Shopper, blogger of Best Colorado Deals, and veteran Rocky Mountain News shopping columnist discusses her New Year's resolutions to integrate more local shopping into her life. Exerpt taken from the BestColoradoDeals.com newsletter, a publication dedicated to independent shoppers and retailers.

Spread the word about the great deals you’ve found at locally owned retailers by sending an e-mail to Janet@bestcoloradodeals.com.

Show your Colorado Local First pride and support of local businesses with our nifty t-shirts.

The t-shirts are American Apparel brand shirts printed by our own fabulous local screen printer, IndyInk. The natural-colored shirts come in men's and women's size styles (the women's sizes are smaller-fitting and have shorter sleeves) with three unique Colorado Local First designs. All shirts are $15 plus shipping when applicable.

This style reads, "Denver is my new hometown"

Price: $15.00 Size: * Please selectclassic girl - smallclassic girl - mediumclassic girl - large Please select your size

Printed EcoMetro guides are annual green living coupon books that support local businesses by giving shoppers valuable financial incentives to buy green products and services with reduced environmental impact. Our guides also provide crucial information for the eco lifestyle such as recycling hotlines, energy rebate resources, and cultural events.

 

Get your own EcoMetro Guide (Denver-Boulder edition) now, featuring hundreds of dollars worth of valuable coupons from lots of local businesses.

 

Price: $20.00

Calling local businesses: Participate in the Creative Stimulus Package coupon book!

As part of Create Denver Week, April 10 - 17, DOCA offers local enterprises in the City of Denver the opportunity to place a coupon, free-of -charge, in the Create Denver Week coupon book. A coupon may be for a good or services. Offers may include dollar or % off, BOGO, etc.
 
Coupon books will be distributed at the Create Denver Expo (attendance: 400), and at CDW headquarters and other events throughout the week. DOCA is currently seeking a print sponsor to underwrite the cost of this free opportunity. The Mile High Business Alliance is partnering with DOCA on this program.
 
Specifications for artwork and deadline information is below.
If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact Ginger at ginger.white@denvergov.org.

 

Coupon Specifications

• Limit: one coupon/offer per business
• DOCA reserves the right to not accept coupon offers
• Size: 5 ½" x 3"
• No bleed
• B/W
• Camera-ready, high-res PDF, all fonts & images embedded

**Due date: Friday, Feb 26**
Submit to ginger.white@denvergov.org

This Valentine's Day, we're asking you to give a little love to local businesses. Supporting our local economy in turn supports our community.

Did you know that 600% more of the money you spend at local businesses recirculates in within our community, making it 6 times more likely to come back to you.  

A little bit of love sure goes a long way. Here are a few suggestions for meeting your V-Day needs via local businesses.

 

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For Sweet Treats - Yum Yums Delights
These cupcakes are as tasty as they are creatively designed. Always fresh and darn cute... you've got to check out their adorable Valentine's Day Cupcakes! Last week, I had to stop into the shop just to admire them. Custom orders (of course!!) are available in 12 different flavors. Yum Yum, indeed.

Dinner & a Show - The Avenue Grill & The Vintage Theatre
Strut your stuff along 17th Avenue in Uptown while having a classic night out comprised of dinner and a show. The Avenue Grill is known for it's classy ambiance (minus any pretenciousness) and penchant for serving local fare. I recommend making a reservation because they will most certainly be busy. Want something lighter? Their appetizers are full-flavored, but not as heavy as a meal. Enjoy them at the bar with one of their countless *stellar* drinks. Now walk on over to the Vintage Theatre for Auntie Mame, a epic of comedic delight empowering one to live life to the fullest. Check their website for showtimes, including a V-Day mattinee.

To Get Away - The Queen Anne Bed & Breakfast
Scrumptiously sustainable, this B&B takes it to the top. Start your morning with a local and organic breakfast. Relax the day away in either their deep soaking whirlpool jet tub for one (Hey, I'm my own valentine this year!) or in their deep jetted hottub for two. Not enough? Happy Hour is celebrated daily from 5-7pm with complimentary Colorado wines & cheeses. Each room is loaded with its own unique charm, so browse (a.k.a. drool) thoroughly.

Intimate Gifts, Literature, & More - Hysteria
 After 5 great years, Hysteria is regrettably closing its doors this Valentine's Day. Everything in this sex-positive boutique is 20-70% off, and things are selling out quickly! Personally, I was down there just last night, and I had an absolutely great time (and got some seriously great deals). And don't forget about their V-day party on the 13th.

For Flowers - Moss Pink Flora & Botanicals
There's a super special V-day menu worth oggling over. There's so much variety, from lush to modern; these arrangements will blow your mind while warming your valentine's heart. Deliveries span both the 13th and the 14th, so get your order in early!
 
Hello Date Night!  - Ceramics in the City
Take your valentine to this paint-your-own pottery and mosaic studio where art is entertainment. Perhaps you can paint a tea set for two? Info and seating times for both Saturday and Sunday at their website. 

Gift Baskets - A La Carte Gifts & Baskets  
"Stop by studio before Feb.12th to see our pre-made Valentine Designs, or just call to have the custom made!" Low on ideas? Don't worry! Check out their online catalog of over 150 designs where you can search by price range, theme, recipient type, and more!

Make Your Own - MoonDance Botanicals
Do-It-Yourself Valentine's Potions on Saturday Feb 13th from noon - 4pm. It might not be Love Potion #9, but it'll surely come close since it's made by you with LOVE. Come in anytime Saturday afternoon to create your own Valentine's potions like aromatherapy cologne oils, aphrodisiac spritzers, silky milk or chocolate bath blends and mood-enhancing herbal truffles! Make your own Valentines to boot!

For Your Environmentally Conscious Valentine - Dragonfly EcoGoods
I've saved my favorite for last. I absolutely love this Valentine's Tree. It was built out of unrepairable bicycle wheels gleaned from Derailer Bicycle Collective. What a wonderful example of creative reuse!

More about the location: This place is loaded with stuff from kitchen scrubbies to fountains to cards, but everything is thoroughly selected for being environmentally-preferable. In other words, these items have low ecological footprints and/or help you lower your own impact on the environment. Granted Dragonfly EcoGoods is carrying lots of V-Day themed gifts, but I say to each their own this Valentine's Day. Personally, my eco-geek heart is wooed most by the 2 tier stainless steel tiffin set as well as the reusable hemp coffee filter.

UPDATE: Special thanks to the sweet boy who sent me the two items listed above. They were a lovely surprise to come home to.

 

Whatever you love, wherever you love, please make it local this Valentine's Day.

 

In A Nutshell The GrowHaus is a non-profit urban farm and market in Denver’s Elyria-Swansea neighborhood. The mission is to increase the accessibility and affordability of fresh, healthy food in the neighborhood while showcasing locally-adapted techniques for sustainable indoor food production.   <!--break--> GrowHaus News 2nd Volunteer Workday, February 6, 1:30-4:00pm
Our first volunteer workday was such a success, we are excited to hold our second workday at The GrowHaus on Saturday, Feb 6. Work will include placing bollards outside, plugging squirrel holes, taking down the Lehrers sign in front, and other general organization. If you are interested, come by The GrowHaus at 47th and York between 1:30-4pm to help out! Contact Coby Gould for directions or questions (303-949-0930).   Environmental Justice Tour,  February 17, 3:00pm
The GrowHaus, in collaboration with Cross Community Coalition, will be hosting a tour of the Elyria, Swansea and Globeville neighborhoods focusing on environmental justice. The tour will be lead by Globeville resident and Cross Community Coalition staff member, Michael Maes, and will address the history of the neighborhoods and the relation between industry and residence in this unique part of North Denver.  The tour will be begin at 3:00pm on Wednesday, Feb. 17th, and the tour bus can hold 14 people.  We will leave from the Cross Community Coalition's main office at 2501 E. 48th.  If you are interested, please contact Coby Gould.

"Dirt" Film Screening and Fundraiser - Sunday, March 7 @ The Bug Theater
The GrowHaus is pleased to present the documentary film that was all the rave at last year's Sundance Festival in an exclusive first time public screening at Denver's Bug Theater.  "Dirt" tells the amazing and little known story of the relationship between humans and living dirt and features eco/food thinkers; Will Allen, Michael Pollen, and Majora Carter.  For more information on the movie click here.  We will present two showings - a matinee at 3pm and a an evening showing at 6pm.  Following the movie, a panel will discuss the film and its relation to our own dirt here in Denver.  Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will benefit The GrowHaus, an indoor farm and marketplace located in Denver's Elyria-Swansea neighborhood.  For more information contact Ashara Ekundayo.

GrowHaus Community Liaison
The GrowHaus is looking for a volunteer to help organize our outreach program between The GrowHaus and the Elyria-Swansea community.  The Community Liaison must be bilingual (Spanish) and preferably live near or have a good understanding of the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood.  If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Adam Brock.

 

For more information on GrowHaus, feel free to follow everyone's efforts on Twitter and Facebook.

Best Colorado Deals needs your support

            The Best Colorado Deals newsletter project has made it into the semifinals of the James L. and John S. Knight Foundation’s News Challenge, a grant program to support “innovative ideas that develop platforms, tools and services to inform and transform community news, conversations and information distribution and visualization.” Our proposal -- along with proposals from 221 other semi-finalists – can be seen on the foundation’s website. You can boost our chance of success and learn a lot about our plans if you read it – and, better yet, leave some positive feedback. To help, enter http://apply.newschallenge.org in your browser. When the page opens, click on "Read and Comment" and register to make comments. Enter “Best Colorado Deals” in the search box, and have at it. Knight will announce its choices for the 50 finalists on Feb. 15 – so hurry! And thanks!

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Start a chili verde Super Bowl tradition

            Super Bowl Sunday is almost here, and it’s a great time to serve green chili. For a memorable green chili that fills your house with wonderful aromas as the game plays, buy the best ingredients. A bushel of frozen roasted chiles – that’s about 17 pounds -- runs from around $23, for the gentle kind, to $35 or $40 for the kind that will melt the wax in your ears. You can buy them at the Chili Guys, 5501 Federal Blvd., (at I-76), 303-455-4030, the largest distributor of green chiles in Colorado. Want a 20 percent discount on your purchase? Just tell owner Aeron Calkin that you heard about the offer from Best Colorado Deals or go to our website and print a copy of the Chili Guys’ coupon. Need a great green chili recipe? Check out Denvergreenchili.com/SuperBowlPartyRecipes.

 

Keep your tootsies warm in clearance and shoes

            Winter shoe and boot clearances abound right now, but, as pundit Nora Ephron observes, “A shoe that doesn’t fit in the store won’t ever fit.” So don’t settle. If you don’t find the perfect shoe, keep looking. Here are a couple of great places to begin.

            Prices on winter comfort shoes and boots from such makers as Munroe, Naot, Mephisto, Dansko, Blondo, Keen and Finn Comfort are reduced by 25 percent to 50 percent through Feb. 21 at Dardano’s Footwear, 1550 S. Colorado Blvd., 303-692-9355. On the high side, one pair of men’s shoes from Footprints, originally $345, was $172.50. On the low side, adorable children’s Smart Wool hat and mitten sets, originally $30, are $15.

            At Sole Foods, 6851 S. Gaylord Street #253, in the Streets at Southglenn, 303-703-3855, www.solefoodshoes.com, the fall and winter clearance features discounts of up to 70 percent on winter shoes and boots from Ugg, Tsubo, Gentle Souls, Patagonia, OTBT, Matisse, Franco Sarto, Haflinger, The North Face, Sorel and more. The clearance continues until all winter stock is sold.

 

Got kids?

            It couldn’t hurt to stock up on gifts for those upcoming 2010 birthday parties, so check out the clearance corner at one of the metro area’s three Timbuk Toys, Timbuktoys.com. Toys from such makers as Ripstik, Breyer, Calico Critters and Corolle are discounted by 10 percent to 75 percent. Find Timbuk Toys at 2780 S. Colorado Blvd., University Hills, 303-756-2522; 200 Quebec St., Lowry Town Center, 303-366-1755; and at 9315 Dorchester St., Highlands Ranch, 303-346-3030.

            Fall and winter clothing and shoes are half price during the winter clearance at Petite Patoot, 1238 S. Broadway, 303-733-3337, petitepatoot.com.

            Here’s how a “you scratch my back” sale works. Wednesday, Feb. 3, through Friday, Feb. 5, go to Aurora’s Consignment Row – the three stores at 15250 to 15256 E. Hampden Ave. (at South Chambers Road) in Aurora. Purchase some consignment children’s clothing or gear at Little Tykes Trading Post, 720-870-7191, Littletykestradingpost.com, or some women’s consignment clothing at Celine’s Designer Resale Boutique, 303-680-5544, www.celeinesboutique.com. Show the receipts at Leta’s Loot consignment home furnishings for a 10 percent discount on your purchase. The receipt must be from the same day and is not valid with any other offer.

 

Ready for Cupid?

            If not, you can start getting ready right away at Sassy Stuff’s February Frenzy Open House, 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 8578 Forrest Lane, Highlands Ranch, 303-471-1048. You’ll find sweet deals on knock-off and sample women’s clothing, accessories, purses, wallets, travel accessories, gifts and home decor.  For more information, go to www.shopsassystuff.com.

            Just in time for Valentine’s Day shopping, the entire collection of Pandora jewelry and beads goes on clearance at half price on Friday, Feb. 6, at Pine Creek Clothing, 1099 S. Gaylord St., 303-733-4848. The selection ranges from $25 charm beads to $500 gold charms and also includes rings, necklaces and earrings. The sale continues until the Pandora line is sold out.

            Ultra-Legs, 3444 S. Broadway, 303-761-3705, ultra-legs.com, offers a huge array of Valentine-worthy merchandise, including white wedding gowns, red lace bustiers and everything in between. Through Feb. 14, all hosiery is reduced by 10 percent to 25 percent, consignment  wedding dresses from David’s Bridal are $199 apiece, and winter gloves, originally $16, are $5 a pair. Not quite what you had in mind? Costumes, some suitable for sexy valentines, originally $49 to $79, are half price. Then there’s the store’s regularly priced stock of red lingerie, gowns, boas and thigh-high boots. Still not it? Ask. They’ll order it.

            Get a head start on chocolate consumption at Historic Olde Town Arvada’s Ninth Annual Chocolate Affair, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6. Giant hearts will be posted throughout the area at West 57th Avenue and Olde Wadsworth Boulevard, and the free family event from the Arvada Festivals Commission and Historic Olde Town Arvada Association also features Chocolate Therapist Julie Pech, a Taste of Chocolate, the Chocolate Treasure Hunt, a Creative Chocolate Cookie Contest, face painting by Mrsfrog.com, balloon artistry by Doofus the Clown; storytelling and other kids’ activities.

            Tickets to purchase a toothsome array of cocoa-based treats are $1 apiece or six for $5. Proceeds benefit the Arvada Ralston House. Last year’s Taste of Chocolate raised more than $2,000 to help the organization provide a safe place for some 500 children and their families to begin the healing process.

 

Sales continue at two great local furniture stores

            At Modern Bungalow, 2594 S. Colorado Blvd., 303-300-3332, modernbungalow.com, prices on entertainment pieces from Trend Manor, Simply Amish, Anthony Lauren and Arts & Crafts Industries reduced by 30 percent through Feb. 14.

            At Howard Lorton Galleries, 12 E. 12th Ave., 303-831-1212, www.HowardLorton.com, through Feb. 15, prices on all upholstered furniture purchased in the store, including clearance items, are reduced by another 10 percent, for discounts of up to 70 percent off original prices.

 

Janet Simons, author of the Colorado Smart Shopper, blogger of Best Colorado Deals, and veteran Rocky Mountain News shopping columnist discusses her New Year's resolutions to integrate more local shopping into her life. Exerpt taken from the BestColoradoDeals.com newsletter, a publication dedicated to independent shoppers and retailers.

Spread the word about the great deals you’ve found at locally owned retailers by sending an e-mail to Janet@bestcoloradodeals.com.

January 9th 2010
By William Porter

The Mile High City is something of a mecca for the region's antiques enthusiasts, with scores of stores offering blasts from the past.

This is in spite of the fact that a big chunk of the city's population arrived here from somewhere else. You would think many of these transplants would have jettisoned the old horsehair sofa or cherrywood highboy back home before loading the moving van, but no: Those treasures survive and wind up in local shops.

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Lucky us.

Antiques stores come and go, but the Denver scene remains thriving enough to support specialty dealers — folks who concentrate largely on one segment of the market, sometimes an arcane one.

There are great antiques shops all over town, as well as in the suburbs, but South Broadway remains the hub, so we should note this shoppers' caveat: Construction along that stretch is a bit messy right now.

Visit antique-row.com for construction updates, and time your visit accordingly.

 

SALVAGE

1. Architectural Salvage Inc.

Owner and proprietor Betsy Werhane has amassed a trove of household appointments from the 1930s and earlier. Browsers will find such items as leaded glass windows, hardware, mantels, columns, pedestal sinks, and ball and claw bathtubs. Hours are Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thurs. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 5001 Colorado Blvd., 303-321-0200, salvagelady.com

ANTIQUE TOYS

2. Yankee Trader

Located in north Denver, this store is a Sargasso Sea of vintage steam shovels, Matchbox cars, Barbie dolls, Buddy L trucks, old Parker Brothers games, Archie and Jughead items, cap pistols and Peanuts lunch boxes. If you're a Citizen Kane seeking to reunite with your own private Rosebud, this is heaven. Hours are Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 4000 Tennyson St., 303-480-1132, yankeetraderantiques.com

LIGHTING

3. Somewhere in Time 

Need something dramatic to hang in the foyer or over the dining room table? Try this shop. Proprietor Lyle Horn offers a big collection of vintage lighting, mainly chandeliers. The shop also sells quality costume jewelry. Other services include repair work for lighting and jewelry. Hours are Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. noon-5 p.m. 1415 S. Broadway, 303-777-3659

WATCHES

4. Manhattan West Timeless Jewelry Inc.

The shop offers an array of antique jewelry and sterling silver flatware, but timepiece fans come to appreciate Lee Travis' discerning eye for timeless watches. Holiday buyers tend to diminish the stock, but the shop currently has 12-15 fine pocket watches on display along with a dozen wristwatches. Hours are Tues.-Sat. 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 1448 S. Broadway, 303-722-0671

VICTORIAN

5. Antiques by Corky Schaeffer

Schaeffer offers a variety of Victorian oak and walnut furnishings, lamps and paintings. It's just the place if you're outfitting one of the numerous Victorian-era houses that still grace Denver's older neighborhoods. Hours are Mon., Tue., Thurs. and Fri. 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sat.: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 1449 S. Broadway, 303-777-8908

BAKELITE

6. Finders Keepers

This shop boasts a variety of antiques, but there is a particularly choice booth run by Mario Rivoli that has an excellent selection of Bakelite jewelry — boldly colorful, collectible costume baubles crafted from synthetic resins popular in mid-century manufacturing. Hours are Mon.–Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. noon–5 p.m. 1451 S. Broadway, 303-777-4521

FIREARMS

7. Frontier Gallery

A must-stop for history buffs and firearms enthusiasts, the Frontier Gallery offers a fine selection of period rifles, shotguns and revolvers.

On display during a recent visit was a Sharps 1853 percussion rifle, bored for a .40-caliber paper cartridge. There was also a Model 73 Henry .44-caliber rifle with the trademark octagonal barrel.

Other interesting items include vintage cavalry sabers and buffalo coats. Owner David Weddle also offers a firearms locator service. Hours are Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.; Sun. noon-5 p.m. 1452 S. Broadway, 303-733-4200

DOLLS

8. Turn of the Century Antiques

Imagine a time when dolls were created from cloth and porcelain, not plastic. Such dolls and toys — most from the 1800s to the 1960s — are the focus of this shop owned by Diane Hoffman. They also deal in fine sterling silver and china. Hours are Tues.-Sat. 9:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. 1475 S. Broadway, 303-722-8700

HATS

9. Shirley's Chapeaus & Vintage Boutique, inside Trunk Full of Treasures

The shop bills itself as carrying 1,000 vintage hats, and it's hard to dispute. It's chapeau city, from the Victorian era to the 1980s, which basically means you can don a topper that will let you channel anyone from Molly Brown to Molly Ringwald. (OK, Molly Brown's heyday fell more in the Edwardian era, but you get the point.)

Shirley's also offers fur coats, capes and collars, plus vintage women's accessories such as purses, gloves and costume jewelry. Hours are Tue.–Sat.: 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.; Sun.: Noon-5 p.m. 1539 S. Broadway, 720-933-2864

GADGETS

10. Packrat Antiques

Stepping into this long-standing South Broadway shop is like a trip into a laboratory at the turn of the last century. Packrat specializes in antique medical and mechanical equipment, and the craftsmanship is often marvelous. If the average antiques shop is a glimpse into how we once lived, Packrat delivers a look at how scientists and engineers plied their art. Hours vary. The store is typically open 11 a.m.-3:45 p.m. except for Sundays and holidays. 1594 S. Broadway, 303- 778-1211

William Porter: 303-954-1877 or wporter@denverpost.com

Wed, Jan 13th, 2010

By: Lamar Clarkson

 

Over the past decade, as the public has increasingly embraced the idea that food is best grown locally and sustainably, we’ve made the opposite assumption about our cultural institutions. Witness the “Bilbao effect,” recently declared all but dead in the New York Times. Smitten with the success of the Guggenheim’s outpost in Bilbao, Spain, we’ve come to believe that any city dissatisfied with its growth and tourist traffic need only follow a simple formula: Commission a big-name architect to design a bigger, flashier museum building, then wait for the tourists and tax dollars to come pouring in. And so we set to work turning culture into a cash crop, sowing boldface names and marble bricks like soybeans and corn.

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But now groups of artist-entrepreneurs around the country have begun extending the locavore idea to the realm of culture. “Could we take the tactics from sustainable food production and apply that to art production?” asks Jeff Hnilicka, cofounder of the Brooklyn organization FEAST, short for Funding Emerging Art with Sustainable Tactics. FEAST, which celebrates its first anniversary next month, applies the logic of community-supported agriculture to grant-making: Locals pay admission to a volunteer-cooked dinner in exchange for the chance to vote on a set of artist proposals. The winning artist takes home the proceeds and presents the resulting work at the next dinner. Funded projects have included an underground library that circulates local artists’ work and a telegraph connecting the banks of the Gowanus Canal, inviting passersby to try tweeting in Morse code. This new incubator for art gives rise to an alternative economy that circumvents the usual gatekeepers and sets up a direct relationship between artist and audience. From Portland, Oregon, to Minneapolis, from Chicago to Buffalo, these groups are harnessing the principles of microfunding to strengthen their local arts communities—and, by extension, the cities that host them.

Continue reading the article...

 

Since this summer, I have been covering the ever growing movement of local governments adopting (or at the least formally encouraging) an internal purchasing preference to that which is local. This includes proclamations supporting local vendors as well as point systems that favor awarding contracts to local bidders. Now, I just got wind of an executive order issued by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter directing state agencies to adhere to the Buy American Provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Though this isn't the typical hyper-localized "buy local" proclamation you're used to seeing, it is very important to consider the relative perspective of government-sized purchasing initiatives. This legislation isn't necessarily going to fuel a small town's economy or support a community that's easily tangible to the individual, but it certainly is focused on keeping money within the United States, which will affect us all in the long run.

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You can find more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 here.

 

 

Executive Order D 027 09 

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Governor of the State of Colorado, I, Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order directing state agencies to adhere to the Buy American provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the maximum extent possible and to request that the Governor's Office of Economic Recovery post waivers to this provision on the website www.colorado.gov/recovery.

 

I. Background and Purpose

On February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”) into law. The ARRA provides funding for education, health care and human services, employment and workforce training, business and economic development, transportation, energy programs, programs related to the environment and natural resources, housing, public safety, and telecommunications. The law requires that the “Buy American” provision be applied in a manner consistent with U.S. obligations under international agreements. The overarching goal of ARRA is to support vulnerable citizens and stabilize communities while pushing the economy forward and creating jobs. To further this goal, section 1605 of ARRA (the “Buy American provision”) requires the purchase of iron, steel, and manufactured products produced in the United States. To more completely meet the goals of ARRA, this Executive Order gives direction to state agencies on compliance with the Buy American provision and requires greater transparency with respect to who is requesting a waiver from the Buy American requirements.
 

Continue reading the Executive Order here.

 

 

Locally-owned independent businesses outperform average retailer sales during 2009 holidays. Those with active Buy Local campaigns fared best.   Originally posted here. MINNEAPOLIS - Jan. 14, 2010   More holiday shoppers deliberately sought out locally owned businesses this year, according to a national survey of more than 1,800 independent businesses.   The survey found that holiday sales for independent retailers were up an average of 2.2%. That contrasts with the U.S. Department of Commerce figures released today, which show that overall retail sales were down 0.3% in December and up 1.8% in November.

The survey also found that independent retailers in cities with active "Buy Independent / Buy Local" or "Local First" campaigns reported stronger holiday sales than those in cities without such campaigns. These campaigns have been launched in more than 100 cities and towns. Independent retailers in these cities reported an average increase in holiday sales of 3.0%, compared to 1.0% for those in cities without an active Buy Local initiative.   <!--break--> Nearly 80% of those surveyed said public awareness of the value of choosing locally owned businesses had increased in the last year (16% said it had stayed the same).
"The buzz about buying local was louder among my customers this year than any other year," said a shoe store owner in Michigan.

"We've had many customers say they are making a real effort to 'Buy Local' this year. A number of customers said they saw an item at a chain store or online, and came back to us to purchase it," said a retailer in Maine.

A bookstore owner in Oregon added that the growing public awareness and support for independent businesses "has been critical to our ability to stay in business during down economic times."

The survey was conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a nonprofit research organization, in partnership with several business organizations, including the American Booksellers Association, American Independent Business Alliance, American Specialty Toy Retailers Association, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, and National Bicycle Dealers Association.

Similar surveys in 2009 and 2008 likewise found that independent businesses in cities with Buy Local campaigns reported stronger sales than those in communities without such an initiative.

"This survey adds to the growing body of evidence that people are increasingly bypassing big business in favor of local entrepreneurs," said Stacy Mitchell, senior researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. "Amid the worst downturn in more than 60 years, independent businesses are managing to succeed by emphasizing their community roots and local ownership."

"These results reinforce what we've heard from our local affiliates -- that their campaigns are yielding real dividends and shifting local spending," said Jennifer Rockne, director of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA). "That's good news for their local economies. Studies show that small businesses keep more dollars circulating locally and generate the majority of new jobs."

"For the third year in a row, this study demonstrates the bottom-line impact of local business alliances running Think Local First campaigns," said Michelle Long, executive director of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies. "Local entrepreneurs are the bedrock of the U.S. economy and, when they work together, they make our communities more resilient, unique, and rewarding places to live."

"This survey demonstrates how important such campaigns are in helping independent businesses achieve greater sales," said American Booksellers Association CEO Oren Teicher. "This insight about consumers' preferences is consistent with what we have seen since the launch of IndieBound in 2008. Shoppers value authenticity, they want to connect with and to strengthen their communities, and they recognize that bigger is not always better. Because of that, we believe that this is a time of great potential for locally owned businesses that are committed to working together."    
Notes: For almost all respondents from communities with Buy Local campaigns in this survey, those campaigns are executed by groups affiliated with AMIBA or BALLE. These groups engage in year-round, community-wide educational efforts and these results may not translate to Buy Local campaigns that operate seasonally or without organizational support.

Also, all of those groups promote local and independent business. Campaigns simply urging people to shop locally to keep tax revenues local, without regard to local ownership, may or may not yield measurable impact.  
Contacts
Stacy Mitchell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 207-774-6792
Jennifer Rockne or Jeff Milchen, American Independent Business Alliance, 406-582-1255
Alissa Barron, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, 240-317-2247
Meg Smith, American Booksellers Association, 914-373-6641.  

Join us for the next Buzz Box, the new think tank for small business. (more info)

 

Registration Details 

 

WHERE: 1290 Williams St. in Denver
WHEN: Monday, Feb 8, 5:30-7:00 pm 
COST: $20 (just $10 for MHBA members) 
 

 

Price: $20.00