Independents Week is a nationally-recognized event in support of local businesses everywhere! This year, 158 locally owned Arizona businesses have stepped up and offered the community 20% off. That’s pretty amazing, it’s no secret that the economy is currently in hangover status. But what we’ve come to realize is that these local businesses are the answer to many of our economic problems: if we support them instead of the national chains we keep tons more money in our community… three times as much, in fact.
So head on over to get your Golden Coupon on our website. Print out some coupons for yourself, friends & family, and get out there and support our local businesses and save some cash at the same time! If you have the free Local First Arizona iPhone app, you can also find the coupon there. If you want to find the businesses who are accepting the coupon in your neighborhood, you can enter your zip code on our Deals page. The 20% off coupon is only good this week, through July 4th.
Check out the video below of Kimber Lanning and Andi Barness giving love to Arizona’s mom & pop businesses, announcing a new ongoing feature called “Local Shoutout.” Every Monday you can tune in to Sonoran Living and learn about more of the valley’s locally owned businesses! Superstition Farm is the first featured business… check that place out, it’s amazing!
We think these posters are pretty cool and we’ve already mailed a few out to other folks. If you’d like a 20.5 x 24.5 poster to display, let me know! We can also insert your city’s name and send you a PDF (sorry, can’t print one for you!). Email me with your city and which images you would like and I’ll get them to you as soon as I can.
Our very own Kimber Lanning was interviewed yesterday on KFNN 1510 Financial News Radio’s “Business for Breakfast” with Ken Morgan & Julie Dougherty. She spoke about the importance of supporting local as well as the upcoming Independence Week. You can check it out here!
A study released today found that SCF Arizona, the state’s largest workers’ compensation insurer, had a $528.3 million economic impact in Arizona in 2009.
The Phoenix company sourced 82 percent of its goods and services from other Arizona companies, according to the study released by Local First Arizona, a nonprofit that encourages Arizona businesses and residents to buy locally.
This could be interesting… I’m not exactly in the center of the political world, but I have to say our economy here in Arizona has a lot more room to expand and breathe than in most other cities in our nation. It’s such a young state in constant flux with plenty of potential, and this potential could go either way. Doesn’t it make sense to have the actual business sector weighing in on these decisions? Use the comment box below to weigh in, I’m interested in your opinions…
Governor pitches plan to privatize commerce department
Gov. Jan Brewer on Wednesday unveiled a plan to privatize the Arizona Department of Commerce.
The model calls for a private-sector leadership board and pushes the state to be more responsive to the needs of the business community and seek more opportunities.
The quasi-public relationship will continue to manage state incentives in attracting and expanding businesses, while engaging the private-sector through a 15-member board composed of CEOs from across Arizona and chaired by the governor, said ADOC spokesman David Drennon.
It’s that time of year, where we the public get a chance to cast our votes for our favorite spots in AZ! We at Local First Arizona want to congratulate all of our members who were nominated, for not only being awesome at whatever they were nominated for but also for being committed to our local economy! Check out some of the businesses below to find out what all of the talk is about…
DINING & FOOD
Best Dessert
Deep Dish Apple Pie – Bill Johnson’s Big Apple Restaurants
This past weekend was the first annual Devoured Culinary Classic at the Phoenix Art Museum, and it was an absolute success by all accounts! Put together by Devour Phoenix (a restaurant coalition formed under the umbrella of Local First Arizona), R Entertainment, and the Phoenix Art Museum, Devoured aimed at showcasing the best chefs and restaurants that the valley has to offer, with foods being paired with local wines and beers. With so many great talents in our own backyard, Devoured proved that you don’t need to import national talents to have an incredibly successful event!
But don’t take our word for it, check out what the bloggers and critics had to say:
We are in the middle of Buy Local Week in Phoenix and Tucson after a great kickoff weekend! Congressman Harry Mitchell, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, and Eddie Basha all showed their support of local business at a press conference at Basha’s in Ahwatukee on Friday. We were also joined by numerous business owners and local farmers and producers, the backbone of our local economy. Tucson threw numerous block parties surrounding local business centers, celebrating some of the local favorites with Black Friday deals, live music, and tons of free giveaways. Many local deals are still being offered in Phoenix and Tucson.
We were fortunate to receive some news coverage during some of these events which I’m collecting here. With our economy in dire straits, stories on spending your dollars locally are more important than ever!
Tucson
Buy Local Day was a big success in Tucson! With multiple block parties and lots of local business deals, many holiday shoppers were able to load up on gifts while keeping more of their money in the Tucson economy. Click here for a clip from KOLD News 13 coverage
Phoenix
KPHO 5 ran a story with some great coverage of Bookmans and Do Me A Favor, check out the video here! They run over some Black Friday stats followed by the statement that $45 out of every $100 spent at a local business stays in the local economy! The word “local” has recently been claimed by multiple corporations without their having to define the word. True, the spaces from which they sell their goods are local, but the ownership (and therefore the trail of profits) is usually not. So to clarify the previous statistic, $45 out of $100 stays in our local economy only when spent at a locally owned business. If you were to spend $100 at your “local” national chain store, approximately $13 would remain in the state. That said, it’s always promising to see positive coverage of local businesses and the importance of the communities support!
Some more coverage of Buy Local Week featuring Shaun Breese of Urban Cookies urging shoppers to “think local first.” The rest of the story blurs the lines between “local” (as in located in your area) and “locally owned” (as in the money stays in your area).
12 News ran somewhat of a downer of a story. I’m not sure if all of the folks interviewed were right outside of a mall, but none seemed aware of their options or even the full implications of their choices. Is sending large chunks of our money out of state really “the best deal”? Congressman Harry Mitchell explained how local businesses in turn support other local services, & Rachel at Bunky Boutique scored some points for shopping local. Watch the video below and let us know what you think in the comments.
Here are some cool articles covering this year’s Buy Local Week
While we focus extra hard on spending locally during Buy Local Week, these practices offer the same great results year-round: unique stock, personalized service, a diverse culture, and more money recirculating our great state! Search our online directory for whatever it is you’re looking for; banks, retail, coffee, auto repair, you name it.
The November issue of Phoenix Magazine begins its highlights of 130 Local First Arizona business members.
If you missed the article in print, read their story online. Just in time for holiday shopping and don’t forget to buy yourself something!
Make the Shift
Their “Make the Shift” article also has great pointers on moving your spending into the local economy. Just a small change in your buying habits makes a big difference!
Shop Local!