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Local businesswoman
raising awareness for
independent retailers
Published Tuesday, July 14
By L.A. Story
Staff Writer
If one wants to know what local business owner, Sonya Kerr, is passionate about, then one has only to ask her about her involvement in the 3/50 Project — raising awareness of the importance of supporting local independent retailers.
Sonya Kerr is the owner of Emma’s Everything, now celebrating its third year in business, and she found a unique program she felt had some sound, livable advice for supporting local businesses and stimulating local economies — the 3/50 Project.
“I was looking around on the Internet for something else and I found the 3/50 Project ... it’s a great program. I saw a number of programs online that are geared for the same thing — raising public awareness and saving independent retailers,” said Kerr.
Kerr now gives all her customers a flyer with the 3/50 Project logo.
The flyer contains a “thank you for shopping with us” sentiment and offers the public some thought provoking advice on a way they can reasonably support their local businesses.
The concept is rather simple with the theme of “Save your local economy ... three stores at a time.” The idea is to think about “3” independently owned businesses that an individual would miss if it were to close. The 3/50 Project encourages individuals to choose drop by those three stores, “say hello and pick up a little something that will make someone smile.”
The second part of the 3/50 Project is for individuals to commit “50” — $50 a month to spend in their local businesses. Kerr pointed out that this can easily be purchases that people would make anywhere else for common items needed monthly — whether it be an independently owned hardware store, restaurant or a specialty shop.
The idea, Kerr explained, is not to take away from the bigger chain stores but to “share the wealth” and make a greater effort to spend their money at locally-owned businesses, where the money will go more directly into the local economy. She noted that much would be lost if the smaller, independent retailers were gone.
“There’s a lot of independents in Corinth,” said Kerr. “There’s so much they can offer. They are locally owned by hometown people. If we all went away, Corinth would become generic with just a few options and without the character the small businesses bring to the town.
Fifty dollars a month can make a big difference if a lot of people are doing it.”
The organizers of the 3/50 Project would certainly agree with the effect $50 could have on a local economy. According to information provided by the project: “If just half the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month in independently owned businesses, their purchases would generate more than $42..6 billion in revenue.”
The information also went on to state that for every $100 spent in independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures, while with national chains, only $43 stays with the local economy and money spent online brings nothing back home.
While not a part of the 3/50 Project, Mary Katherine Butler, owner of Kates & Company and Mainstreet Corinth board member, cited her own reasons for recognizing the value of supporting independent retailers. “Independent retailers are able to select their own style of merchandise and there is generally a uniqueness of items that might not be sold in larger chain stores,” noted Butler. “Also, the uniqueness of specialty shops tend to draw shoppers from surrounding areas as well as tourists, which certainly helps the city’s economy.”
Top Shelf Records owner Todd Gurley agreed: “I don’t think people realize just how important the locally owned businesses are to the local economy and, with the convenience of chains, I think sometimes they forget to support us. I am always excited about the chance to raise public awareness to support independent retailers.”
Kerr said she hopes that other independent retailers will come on board and actively, passionately, help raise public awareness and support for their locally owned independent retailers.
The 3/50 Project was founded by Cinda Baxter, a retail consultant and professional speaker through her company - Always Upward. For more information about the project, visit the website at www.the350project.net.
