Small businesses need you!

We were excited to receive our 3/50 Project sign in the mail this weekend, and immediately slapped it in the window of our front door. If you haven’t heard about it yet, we’re here to spread the word. The 3/50 Project is a grassroots movement started by Minneapolis retail consultant and blogger Cinda Baxter, encouraging consumers to spend $50 total each month at their three most valued local independent businesses. As the owner of a small business, I certainly hope this initiative continues to gain momentum and increase shoppers’ awareness of the power of their spending dollars. The 3/50 Project website has some great information, including this reminder about how shopping independents can have a very real impact on the local economy: “For every $100 you spend 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.”

If you’re in Minnesota, we think you should also check out the Made in Minnesota gift guide, created by progressive thinktank Minnesota 2020 – this online guide was originally created to encourage holiday shoppers to buy local when they’re stuffing stockings and what not, but now it seems apropos year-round. The site lists over 400 businesses and products that are born in our home state.