Anyone caught in the crush of Black Friday crowds would probably doubt there’s any pressing need to support local merchants. But Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, was followed by Cyber Monday, when attention quickly turned to online shopping, the biggest threat to brick-and-mortar retailers.
Sara Keltsch, who owns The Monogram Shoppe at Covington Plaza, suggests holiday shoppers should now embrace “Local Saturdays” – three weeks of buying from local businesses. Her idea dovetails nicely with a national initiative she supports, the 3/50 Project.
Minneapolis-based retail consultant Cinda Baxter came up with the idea for the project. She calculated $50 a month in purchases made by half of the employed U.S. population in small, independent businesses would generate $42.6 billion in a year. For every $100 spent at independent retailers, $68 returns to the local economy through employees’ paychecks, taxes and local bank transactions, according to Baxter.
“Ask consumers to frequent three local brick-and-mortar businesses they don’t want to see disappear, and to spend a very affordable $50 per month doing it,” her Web site proposes. “Could be those three. Another three. Doesn’t matter. It’s about funneling revenue back into local business. You know – the folks that pour money back into the community via commercial property taxes, payroll taxes, sales tax and salaries (not to mention all that good will by way of volunteer time, silent auctions, sponsored softball teams, workshops, book signings, etc.).”
Keltsch is less discriminating in her definition of a local retailer. She said she hopes area shoppers will support all brick-and-mortar businesses, including franchise and big-box stores. Like independent businesses, they employ local residents, support the local economy and generate sales tax revenues.
“The governor was just talking about the shortfall in sales taxes and what that means,” Keltsch said. “I would love to help increase that amount. Seven percent of my sales goes to the state. If you buy online, nothing goes back to the state coffers – that’s something people don’t think about.”
So, how about it? Three Saturdays to go before Christmas, three Saturdays to spend dollars that will support local jobs. Those are dollars that will stay in northeast Indiana, supporting other retailers, restaurants, contractors, churches, charities and health providers. The sales taxes will stay in Indiana, supporting state government and schools, and fewer empty storefronts will appear. It’s a project worth supporting this month and throughout the year.
Several Fort Wayne businesses have signed on to the 3/50 Project to promote local buying:
•Fast Print Inc.
•Fort Wayne Outfitters and Bike Depot
•Freeman Jewelers Inc.
•Hall’s Restaurants
•Knitting Off Broadway
•Rusty Gate Decor, LLC
•The Monogram Shoppe
•Wild Hare Décor
•Wooden Nickel Music
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