Get Local. Shop Local. Support Local.

Pick 3. Spend 50. Save Your Local Economy.

Driving down small towns and looking at local shops with empty store fronts is such a sad thing. I think of that business owners hopes and dreams gone. How can we make a difference and make a change?

Stacey, from HullaBaloo Maternity and InfantWear, just blogged about a project called the 5/30 project. I have included a link to the project and to her blogpost about it below. Essentially it's saying you have the power to choose where your dollars are spent and to think about this carefully.

You can buy your maternity clothes from Kohl'ls or Target, but I bought my entire maternity collection from a small independent awesome shop in Royal Oak called HullaBaloo Maternity and InfantWear. She carefully hand-selects only the unique - from the teeny-tiniest layette to whimsical tees, funky crib bedding to rugged strollers.

She is also supports local artisans who make wonderful and special gift items. One such artisan is Anna Banana who has special events at HullaBaloo where you can get your baby or children's hand and footprints pressed into clay. Then you can choose your glaze and pick it up in the store 4-6 weeks later. This has been a huge hit for Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Christmas!

What 3 independent businesses would you miss if they disappeared? If half of the employed population spent $50 a month locally that would bring in 42.6 billion dollars in revenue for the local economy.

SOURCES:
http://hullabaloomaternity.blogspot.com/2009/07/support-local-shop-local-530-project.html
http://www.the350project.net/home.html
http://www.the350project.net/media.html