Topic: Support local,’ say local firms
- Feb 7, 2006 05:50pm by NRG - livin the art that is life !
www.64111clinic.com fam
www.nrginmotion.com massage
www.myspace.com/nrginmotion world community Location: havenhouse KCK/ 64111 Clinic 4 Life
Support local,’ say local firms
Grassroots group offers a new voice
By JOYCE SMITHThe Kansas City Star
When Mary Kay Van Buskirk Morrow was growing up in midtown during the 1960s and 1970s, her family traded with thriving small businesses owned by their friends and neighbors.
Now with chain stores dominating many markets, she wants to make sure local entrepreneurs still prosper.
She recently formed KC Local Color, a grassroots association to promote and market independent businesses, including retailers, professionals, trades people, artisans, restaurateurs, health-care providers and others.
KC Local Color offers collective advertisements for cheaper rates, window decals, a Web site directory, discount cards, and booths at local community events. The annual fee $300.
Frances Gordon, president of the Brookside Business Association and owner of Latin American Imports, said the Web site — at www.kclocalcolor.com — is a great way for consumers to learn about new, independent operations.
“It connects people all over the city and drives customers into the stores,†Gordon said. “It’s a struggle to be up against the giant companies with their big advertising budgets. KC Local Color is developing a brand for independent businesses and giving us more of a voice.â€
While many Kansas Citians know Kelly’s Westport Inn as a locally owned business, co-owner Kyle Kelly joined KC Local Color to make consumers more aware of the advantages of spending their money in their neighborhoods.
“When you buy local, support local, it comes back to you,†Kelly said.
Van Buskirk Morrow pointed to a recent study on bookstores in Austin, Texas.
Civic Economics, a consulting firm, found that $13 of every $100 spent at a chain bookstore stayed in the community while $45 stayed in the community when spent at a locally owned bookstore.
“We want Kansas City to be as vibrant and strong and important as other cities; to promote the flavor that is Kansas City and keep small independents alive,†Van Buskirk Morrow said.
[size=9:586321249d]nrgnote: the economics alone of buy local are sound enough but add the bonus of the collective marketing and everybody who gets involved wins. hiphop should check out this way of building and stabilizing itself .
I practice a form of this. when I am looking for something or wanting to support something by thinking family, friend, aquaintance, immediate community, community at large , finally chain store. Think hiphopCommunity dollars builds our hiphopcommunity
peas[/size:586321249d]
