Welcome to “In the Loupe”! With more and more “big-box” mentality creeping into our lives, I wanted to take some time at the start of the busy holiday season to remind everyone about the importance of supporting local businesses.

I recently learned about “The 3/50 Project”
(www.the350project.net/home.html). The main tenet of this movement is to save local, brick and mortar businesses. The simple fact is that it is these small businesses that contribute the most, per dollar of revenue, back to their communities and the broader U.S. economy.

Did you know that for every $100 spent in independently owned stores, $68 returns to the local economy through taxes, payroll and other spending? If you take that same money and spend it at a chain store, only $43 dollars returns to the community. If you spend with an online retailer NONE of that money comes back!

We have all heard the news about the earliest Black Friday start times in history...and no one is immune to the media reports about the status of the world economy. While I am sure that many of you braved the stampedes at midnight this year, after a quick nap and a leftovers lunch, I hope that you will consider shopping at your local specialty stores and small businesses. Not only will you find unique and special gifts that your friends and family will love, you will get excellent quality, value, and customer service!

Remember, the power to revive our economy lies with you, the consumer. So put your money to work and shop locally this holiday season and all year through!

Austin Schultz
Multi-Tasker
plumbgoldltd@gmail.com