CAPITAL REGION Shoppers asked to buy from local businesses BY JAMES SCHLETT Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter James Schlett at 395-3040 or jschlett@dailygazette.net.
It’s a case of the corner bookstore fighting back against the big corporate competitor. But not alone. There is the pizza parlor, the cafe, the credit union and the food cooperative. As big box retail stores and other franchises file into the Capital Region, a grassroots movement is gaining momentum among independently-owned businesses. It has entrepreneurs joining forces to convey one key message to consumers: Buy local. Since January, about 25 area businesses have banded together to push the buy local theme. They have formed Capital District Local First, which is mounting a marketing campaign to promote independent businesses. Some group activities include publishing a member directory and by hosting a Buy Local Day on Dec. 8. A handful of area businesses earlier this month started posting decals on their storefront windows declaring their affiliation with Local First. The decals encourage shoppers to “Keep your capital in the Capital District.” Local First is seeking nonprofit status and plans to join the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, a Sanfranciscobased organization composed of 53 similar networks with over 15,000 business members in the United States and Canada. BALLE recently established networks in Buffalo and the Hudson Valley. “We’re trying to preserve individuality in our community,” said Susan Taylor, chairwoman of Local First’s steering committee. She is also the marketing and events coordinator for the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza in Albany and Market Block Books in Troy. Local First’s mission is similar to that of business improvement districts or chambers of commerce, except it excludes corporate chains from its ranks. Taylor said Local First aims to highlight the uniqueness and the investments locally-owned businesses bring to the community. By year’s end, she expects the group’s membership to reach 100. “I really and truly hope a sense of real community and caring come out of this,” said Mary Alice Smith, co-owner of the Java Jazz Cafe & Bakery in Delmar. Smith joined Local First shortly after acquiring Java Jazz in May. Judy Gold’s Tough Traveler luggage manufacturer in Schenectady is another new member of the group. The 37-year-old Traveler has long been a supporter of the Made in the U.S.A. promotional tag, which encourages Americans to buy goods produced domestically. But where the Made in the U.S.A. campaign has a national reach, Local First’s initiatives will target a more local audience. “They want people to remember that there’s a value to having locally-owned stores,” Gold said. In 2001, BALLE grew out of a fledgling network of independent businesses centered around Philadelphia. Its member networks have pursued various projects geared toward supporting local buying. For example, a Cambridge, Mass. network made business directories that are much more elaborate and expansive than the ones Local First plans to print. A San Francisco network printed book marks that cite reasons to buy locally and that are stapled to purchase receipts. Rebecca Marion, a spokeswoman for the Retail Council of New York State, said the rising number of recalled tainted goods from China could fall in favor of the buy local movement. At Tough Traveler, Gold attributed some luggage purchases to increasing wariness over Chinese-made products.
Well well. We knew this was coming. After all of the the 'sprawl' and 'not made in America' and 'quantity instead of quality' became the fashion, the local small businesses would take the hit. That issue has always been on the forefront when the issue of Big Box/Sprawl rears it's ugly head in a community. Small, local businesses are always subject to take the negative impact. I commend them for their efforts.
As far as buying in our own local area, (schenectady county) will remain to be seen. How our powers to be handle our sales tax dollar is questionable. There are instances where I would rather give to another RESPONSIBLE municipality. This is a damned if ya do and damned if ya don't.
Perhaps the small businesses should be addressing their county legislatures and discuss where and how the tax revenue will be spend.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I have always bought from local businesses if they have what I am looking for. And they usually do. I will even pay the little bit more to support them.
I buy local but will also go to Target or Sears which is actually KMart .And I must confess that I shop BJs before PriceChopper or Hannaford. (I hate grocery stores) I buy my appliances from Marcellas and will buy flowers from a florist. I would go to a locally owned pharmacy...but there are none. So I go to Rite Aid. I will also buy my meat from Sals or Gabriels from time to time. But I have to admit that BJ's meat is excellent!!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I like the meat from Sal's, Gabriel's and BJ's better than the meat at Price Chopper or Hannaford. And if you buy any of the products made by Pede Brothers, you should go right to their store on Duanesburg Road. They are cheaper there than in the markets. I don't like going into grocery stores either.
Public invited to attend meetings of ‘Local First’
Your Aug. 22 article on Capital District Local First was excellent. Readers might like to know that the next meeting of Local First will be on Sept. 10 at Tough Traveler’s factory, 1012 State St. The public is invited. Tough Traveler factory tours will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., while the Local First meeting will begin at 7. Local First is open to both merchants and non-merchants who want to support local businesses. Your article captured the excitement of the group and what it is trying to achieve. NANCY GOLD Schenectady The writer is president of Tough Traveler Ltd.
I think this is a great idea for local businesses. I don't know how many people will attend these meetings, but maybe as it catches on, more people will come. It's a great way to network. Although I thought the Chamber of Commerce would be promoting private local businesses. I know you have to pay a yearly fee to be a part of the Chamber. And if these businesses have paid their dues, the Chamber should also be promoting them.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
The "Buy Local First" initiative will succeed only if local merchants can differentiate themselves from the "big box" and chain stores. If the product offerings are the same and the independent local merchants charge more for the same items, they will not prosper as the economies of scale favor the large retailers and most people will base their purchasing decisions on price.
As an example, I was a long time LL Bean and Lands End customer when the products that they offered were "Made in the USA". The American made products generally cost a little more than their imported counterparts, but the quality of the domestic made products was superior. Several years ago, however, LL Bean and Lands End began to phase out the products that were made in the USA, replacing them with imported items in an effort to "remain competitive". It was at that time that I ceased buying from these companies as I could find similar product offerings at any of the chain stores (KMart, Walmart, Sears, etc.) at a lower cost and without the excessive shipping and handling charges.
I would recommend to the local merchants who are members of the "Buy Local First" campaign that they differentitate themselves from the chain stores by offering American made, and preferably local made, items. I, for one, would be pleased to support American manufacturers even if the cost was slightly higher than similar imported items. Another manner in which they could differentiate themselves is by offering same day home delivery. I long for the days of home delivered dairy products, the produce trucks, etc. that would peddle their products in our neighborhoods.
Americans must support manufacturers who provide jobs to our family members and to our neighbors.
Seriously though, I think maybe the issue with faulty and poisonous products from China might make a few people think twice. Maybe not for the appropriate reason, but atleast it may make a difference. I agree with Zims assessment of of LL Bean and Lands End, they have "sold us out" to the cheap imports and charge the same as domestic products. I can remember my grandfather, who was a WW2 veteran refused to buy anything from Japan. He is about the last one I ever knew who had a passion for buying American and would do without before buying anything foreign.
When I was younger, my dad would rally about buying American made only. It would upset him when he would see products that had "made in Japan" on them. He would buy only American made products, especially cars. (I liked Honda's) He use to tell me that by buying foreign made products, we were just putting ourselves out of work. He said that the country would suffer for it one day. I was younger than and didn't think he knew what he was talking about. (of course} I am older now and my dad has passed on, and his words ring clear to me everyday now. HE WAS RIGHT! I try to buy American made, if I can find it. But I must confess, I still like my Honda's.
Here's the first step to buying local, buying from inside the Good Ole U.S. of A. Here's some places to look for things that are made here. I googled "made in the usa" and these were all on the first 2 pages.
"We believe most consumers think "Made in USA" means that real manufacturing jobs were provided to U.S. workers in order to make that product. The shoes produced in our U.S. factories are made by U.S. workers using both U.S. and imported materials. Where the level of domestic value is at least 70%, we have labeled the shoe "Made in USA." Where it falls below that level, we have qualified it as containing both domestic and imported materials. This determination is based in part on a survey of consumers conducted by the FTC." --New Balance Inc.
The products featured here have met the designated New Balance "Made in USA" qualifications.
And finally, (OK, there's actually one more thing below, but we're almost there) here's a list of a whole bunch of companies which Andrew Wilkow (former WGY radio talk show host and now Sirius Patriot Channel 144 host) has compiled as Made in the USA products.
Quoted Text
Wilkow's Made in the USA Shopping Guide WGY ^ | 12-18-2005 | Andrew Wilkow
Posted on 12/18/2005 8:10:30 AM PST by AliVeritas
The reason for this shopping guide is not chastise anyone for purchasing what they want or can afford, after all we live in a free market society. It is not a cry of desperation or a call to pass anti-free market laws. This guide is not an endorsement of any one product or company over another.
What it is however, is a convenient list of products designed, crafted and produced by Americans for Americans in America (I realize that sounds a little redundant).
It also stands to dispel the myth that American made products are more often than not more expensive than imported products. In the end high end products will come at a higher price and so on no matter where the product is produced.
One final thought, this guide is not the be all end all. There plenty of products that haven't made the list yet.
Diamond Gusset Jeans: 100% Made in the USA for 20 Years
Origins
Denim from Georgia
Buttons and burrs from Kentucky and Tennessee Thread from Nashville Hang Tags and Labels from Tennessee Pocketing from Mississippi Leatherette Patch from Atlanta Sewn together in the Georgia mountains Stonewashed in Georgia
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