‘Small, mighty, impactful’: How one Local First donor is giving back to Arizona
Ideas Collide co-founder Matt Clyde (center) with senior leadership
One of Local First Arizona’s longtime supporters is Ideas Collide.
The Scottsdale marketing agency has proven for years it’s committed to supporting local, from designing eye-catching brands for Arizona-based businesses like Danzeisen Dairy to sponsoring numerous Local First programs.
A Small Wonders map
A Small Wonders map was the genesis of the partnership.
Matt Clyde, co-founder of the company which plays on his surname, saw one of Local First’s pocket-size guides to independent businesses and tourist attractions in different parts of the state and felt inspired.
“That was very much who we were as an agency: Small and mighty and impactful. And we thought the same thing of Local First,” Clyde said. “We started small and grew to be big. And we want to see the same for these small businesses. We love seeing them thrive.”
Going above and beyond
The agency has gone beyond becoming a Legacy Sponsor, the highest tier of annual membership in Local First’s Business Coalition.
Ideas Collide also financially supports Local First’s Spanish-language business accelerator, Fuerza Local Acelerador de Negocios, and Black-owned business accelerator, We Rise.
Ideas Collide supports Spanish-language business boot camp, Fuerza Local Acelerador de Negocious
The agency helped our team build the Shop Local First Marketplace, a one-stop shop to order Arizona-made gifts and goods online, and the Good Food Finder, a map of local farms and food artisans throughout the state.
Ideas Collide also has underwritten the Arizona Fall Festival, the largest free festival in downtown Phoenix, and the Arizona Good Business Summit, a one-of-a-kind conference for local businesses.
If all that wasn’t enough, Ideas Collide put up a $5,000 matching grant for 2023 Arizona Gives Day that brought in new donations to sustain Local First’s work.
‘There when you need them’
Thomas Barr, vice president of business development for Local First, said Ideas Collide gets it.
“They’ve always been one of those companies that’s there when you need them,” Barr said. “They work with global clients like Intel and Best Western but haven’t lost their local roots.”
A vendor at Arizona Fall Festival pours wine
“They have a deep understanding about why it’s important to invest in entrepreneurship and what drives a strong local economy,” he added.
Clyde said the decision to give back is ingrained in the company’s culture (which has earned multiple awards).
“We’re only as great as the community around us,” he said. “We have to make sure we have a strong local foundation in our community to attract talent and opportunity. We all have to be part of the solution.”
Small wonders, delightful discoveries
Since first discovering Local First’s Small Wonders maps nearly a decade ago, Clyde continues to embody its spirit, exploring all corners of Arizona from Bisbee and Tombstone to the Grand Canyon.
He encourages others to fully explore their home state.
“I’m a big believer in being a tourist in your own state,” Clyde said. “You can find so much flavor and options and discoveries that are hidden.”
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