Local Efforts to Save Main Street Bring in Traffic
Consumers and groups all over the country are running buy-local campaigns in an effort to support their neighborhood's small businesses. For instance, Ginger Pet House Owner Ginger MacCutcheon participated in the 3/50 project, a movement that encourages consumers to spend $50 a month at three local small businesses. As a result, her foot traffic increased by 30 customers per week on average and sales more than doubled some previous months.
However, the long-term effectiveness of these campaigns has yet to be determined. High-end pen store Gilbertson Clybourn Inc. Owner Dan Collins posted a sign that garnered attention from the local newspaper, leading to 20 to 30 shoppers daily – but the increase was temporary.
For now though, community efforts can at least protect small businesses from the hardest times, according to a January survey conducted by the nonprofit research group Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
Source: WSJ.com | June 30, 2009
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