We're pleased to announce a new round of marketing workshops designed for small to medium sized local businesses. Topics include:

• Building Your Brand
  Branding: what is it, why does it matter, and how do you develop your company's brand?
• Creating a Wow! Customer Experience
  How do you ensure your customers keep coming back for more?
• Big Mouth Marketing
  Referral marketing is 3,500 times more effective than print advertising alone. Learn how to get others to talk about your business to their friends. 

The idea of investing in our local communities, including putting cash into local businesses, is really spreading. The New York Times Year In Ideas issue includes what they call "Locavesting," or focusing capital investments on locally owned companies via local exchanges. Here's the full text of the article from Amy Cortese as found on their web site:

Twist & Shout, one of Denver's best independent record stores and a founding member of the MHBA, publishes a seasonal printed newsletter with local news and music info. This winter's newsletter also features an article about the Mile High Business Alliance and Colorado Local First.

With 14 days until Christmas, you may now be left with a few straggling gift wishes and a small budget. So this shopping guide features gift suggestions for your hard-to-buy-for friends and family that won't put you into debt.

It really is easy to shop smarter - finding the things you want while building a healthy local economy.

Here are our recommendations for:

Check out this video featuring Tommy Thwaites, co-founder of MHBA member Coda Coffee. He describes how he translated his passion for coffee into his wholesale coffee business.

You can find Coda Coffee to drink at lots of local coffeehouses. Some of my favorites? Pajama Baking Co. on Old South Pearl St, and Blackberries at Five Points. Give it a try!

These shopping guides to help find local gifts this holiday are really fun to write. We have such a wealth of local businesses that you'll never have to step foot in a mall!

And now, a selection of local shops to find gifts for the brothers, fathers, husbands, boyfriends, male coworkers, and all the other men in your life. Clicking on the business name will take you to their listing in the Colorado Local First directory.

Last week's Westword included an article by Susan Froyd about Buy Local Week and the Colorado Local First campaign. Check it out; the article is on page 22.

Yesss!

Reserve early and save GREEN! Join us at the Spring Green Festivals in Seattle, Denver and Chicago.

Want to find something unique and special for loved ones this holiday season? There are dozens of gift guides on the internet, but we’re offering something unique: a guide to local gift giving.

When we buy from locally owned businesses, more of that money stays in our local economy. In fact, one study in San Fransisco revealed that just a 10% shift in retail sales toward local businesses would create thousands of new jobs and $190 million in economic activity. We don’t have to spend more, just spend smarter.