Not Immune To The National Recession

May 2009
The Inland Northwest is not immune to the national recession. How can you help build new momentum for our local economy? Continue supporting local businesses. Consider shopping the store, banker, credit union or architect down the street.
 

  • Keep Your Neighbors Working
  • Keep Our Local Economy Strong
  • Keep Our Community Strong
  • Keep Recycling Your Dollar MORE


Spend where you live is a simple concept. It’s how Finders Keepers store owner Deena Caruso built her business in Spokane, selling new and vintage jewelry and clothing.

“I have customers who’ve been with me for 10 years. Especially during our snowstorms earlier this winter, those customers made a special effort to shop my store. Because of that, my sales for the first quarter of this year are up 25% over last year,” said Caruso.

Caruso and other business owners in the Inland Northwest are part of a new campaign called “Buy Local.” It was launched earlier this year by Greater Spokane Incorporated (the region’s Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council) after a few businesses started asking what GSI was doing to encourage local spending.

Buying locally means getting out of the “point, click, buy” cycle. Whether you buy online for convenience, or to skip sales tax, you’re perhaps unintentionally reducing the level of services in the Inland Northwest. Washington leans heavily on sales tax revenues, since we have no personal income tax. And it’s not just online out-of-region retail spending that siphons dollars from our region: it’s also services, cars and even vacations to far-flung destinations. Keeping that money here contributes to our quality of life in the form of drivable roads, police and fire services, parks, libraries, the arts, and more. It helps keep your neighbors and your family employed, and the dollars you spend in your community re-circulate many times over.

And local business owners say you can’t get the same kind of service with an out-of-area company as you can with a business whose owners and employees live, work and invest in the Inland Northwest.

MaryAnn Dalessi, who owns document finishing company Presentation Solutions said, "When our customers buy machines and supplies from us, they know we stand behind the product. We will come out to install and train the staff in how to use the equipment. When something goes wrong, we're here with a phone call or in-person visit to get them back up and running again. “

GSI’s Buy Local campaign is different from other similar campaigns you may have heard of. It’s not only for locally-owned companies, but for any business in our region. That means national firms can take part if they wish. They employ local people who spend their earnings locally and these national companies pay local taxes.  So far, locally-owned businesses have been quickest to get involved in the effort, posting Buy Local signs, window clings, displaying the logo on their website, and serving on a Buy Local committee based at GSI.  Eventually, some of those same businesses may sponsor TV and radio spots and billboards promoting the campaign (radio spots are already running on several local stations). Members and nonmembers of GSI are eligible to take part. And Buy Local is open to any community in our region, from Moses Lake to the Silver Valley.

Already, Liberty Lake, Newport and Sandpoint have signed on to take part in the campaign. Also important to note for individual businesses: participation is free!

This effort could not have taken flight without dozens of affiliates and partners, including advertising firm Magner Sanborn, who designed the Buy Local logo. Our partners stand firm with Greater Spokane Incorporated in the belief that buying locally is good for everyone. As Dalessi said,  “Buying local keeps our staff and your staff employed. That's what we all want at the end of the day."


Participate Today!

Contact Dawn Picken at  to participate in the Buy Local campaign today, or visit GreaterSpokane.org and click next to the big green bag.
 
Listen to our Buy Local radio spot
Watch our Buy Local TV spot (quicktime)


"We have had a lot of individuals mention that the only reason they came in was the buy local sign on the door." -Kelly Zent, Simply Northwest