Shift Your Shopping - Choose Local and Independent

Our Partners

Somerville Local First is a member of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE). BALLE is North America’s fastest growing network of socially responsible businesses, comprised of over 80 community networks representing over 22,000 independent business members across 30 U.S. States and Canadian provinces. BALLE networks create local living economies through the building blocks of independent retail, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, green building, local zero-waste manufacturing, community capital, independent media, and local arts and culture. We encourage you to learn more about BALLE by checking out their website here.

The Sustainable Business Network (SBN) engages business and community leaders in building economies that are green, local, and fair. The SBN has 20-years of experience in bringing business leaders together along with others interested in topics such as business ethics, the multiple-stakeholder model, and sustainable workplaces to share information and take action. We encourage you to check out their website here.

Somerville Local First is applying for our own 501(c)3 nonprofit designation and, like other Local First networks around New England, is currently a project of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston

The New England Local Business Forum
The New England Local Business Forum (NELBF) is a resource for local business organizations in New England made up of more than a dozen local business alliances. By connecting local business leaders on a regional level, NELBF strives to promote independents and strengthen local economies. To find out more about NELBF, visit their website here.

Cambridge Local First is SLF’s affiliate organization in neighboring Cambridge, MA. Like SLF, CLF is committed to building a strong local economy and a vibrant, distinct community. First formed in October 2005, CLF’s network of locally owned and independent businesses has grown to over 250 member. Find out more about CLF by visiting their website here.

The Sustainable Business Leader Program (SBLP) is a comprehensive certification program that supports local businesses in improving their environmental business practices and reducing their carbon footprint. For more information on becoming a Sustainable Business Leader please visit their website www.sustainablebusinessleader.org.

The American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) is a non-profit organization helping communities to launch and successfully operate programs to support community-based enterprise and entrepreneurism, build local economic vitality, and prevent the displacement of independent businesses by large corporations. AMIBA has helped dozens of communities across the U.S. and Canada to launch Independent Business Alliances and assisted many more with Buy Local campaigns, policy initiatives and more. They offer a wide range of outreach tools and trainings, and publish a free monthly newsletter that provides a steady flow of new ideas and tools. For more information, visit their website http://amiba.net/. (Note: SLF has not yet joined AMIBA as members, though we support their work)

The Move Your Money project is a nonprofit campaign that encourages individuals and institutions to divest from the nation’s largest Wall Street banks and move to local financial institutions. To find out more about Move Your Money, check out http://moveyourmoney.info/.

The New Rules Project & Stacy Mitchell

Stacy Mitchell is a senior researcher with the New Rules Project and directs its initiative to curb the power of big-box retailers and strengthen locally owned businesses. She’s the author of Big-Box Swindle, writes regularly for a variety of publications, and produces a monthly email bulletin, The Hometown Advantage. We encourage you to check out her website http://www.newrules.org/.

On Saturday, October 2nd from 11 AM to 5 PM, the first-ever Boston Local Food Festival will take place outdoors along the Boston Waterfront and Fort Point Channel. Themed Healthy Food for All!, it is a zero waste, free festival celebrating the virtues of eating local food produced in the Boston area, Massachusetts, and New England. The festival will feature freshly harvested produce, delicious dishes ($5 or less) created with locally grown ingredients and take-away from Made in Massachusetts producers. Festival-goers can engage with farmers, chefs and entrepreneurs, learn from workshops and demonstrations about gardening, cooking, nutrition, health and exercise while enjoying art and festive music. For more information: www.bostonlocalfoodfestival.com

Shopping locally, joyfully and mindfully

(Michael Kanter is really one of my favorite people, though an outside observer watching one of our conversations, riddled with lovingly acerbic New England wit and mocking, might find that hard to believe. Michael is a leader, a business owner and one of the key people in New England when it comes to authenticity of the movement. I’m glad to have him as a partner in this work, and was inspired by reading his thoughtful message here. I hope you will be as well. ~ Joe, SLF)

by Michael Kanter

We all have heard that this time of year is often critical for the success of many businesses. But why should anyone care? Those businesses made their own decisions to open their doors, why should I worry myself about their success? And what can my purchases do to help those businesses? Besides, I need to watch my own finances carefully especially in this economy. And, what difference is it if they stay in business or not? All of these are actually and seriously important questions.

First I want to make the distinction of what businesses I believe deserve your greatest support. Full disclosure, I am the co-owner, with my wife Elizabeth Stagl, of Cambridge Naturals which we started and have owned for 37 years. That noted, I assume that if you are reading this you are likely at least aware of and perhaps a supporter of the “local movement” and in particular that you are aware of the benefits to your community of spending your dollars at locally owned and independent businesses. So, of course, I am suggesting that this season, like all seasons, you mindfully and intentionally make your gift purchase at such businesses.

Michael has also been instrumental in helping Cambridge Local First and Somerville Local First develop a strong working relationship

As the news of a very challenging economy continues to circulate many of us have gotten very nervous about our savings, our jobs, our homes and our communities. And many of us worry about our friends and loved ones for the same reasons. The daily papers (what’s left of them, anyway), the radio and tv news, internet updates, etc., etc. rarely feature anything positive that is happening in the world or even our communities. Quite the contrary; open up or turn on any of those sources and it seems to be all bad news all the time.

I am not here to argue that there is not enough ugly and destructive “stuff” happening. I am suggesting, however, that the local movement in all its ramifications is one of the very brightest and most optimistic movements to “come down the pike”. Furthermore, I suggest that joyfully supporting (read: shopping at) your locally owned and independent businesses is one of the ways you can directly participate in this positive movement for social change.

Here’s why.

Most of us who have opened such businesses have done so with the intention of offering the community products and services that are unique and we are thrilled to be part of the fabric of our towns and regions. A mere fraction of us have set out to “get rich” (and of those few that did, very few succeed).

Further, few entrepreneurs have thoughts or plans of attempting to build our businesses in ways that would take us out of our communities such as franchising or other growth concepts that would make us less active and direct participants in our place.

In fact, in my long retail experience in this area, I am really impressed with the activism and involvement of locally owned and independent business owners and managers in supporting non-profits and in truly being honorable members of the communities where we work and often live.

As well, the existence of unique locally owned and independent businesses is part of what makes our towns attractive to residents and visitors alike. And, yes let’s remember those studies that show that so many more dollars that are spent at independent community businesses have the power of staying in the area and strengthening our communities.

Most if not all of us have people we want to buy gifts for at this time of year and most if not all of us have limits to our budgets. Just like our local and state and national governments need to be mindful of spending we all wish to be mindful of not going beyond our “comfort levels” or beyond our budgets.

My suggestion is this: It is to all our benefit if we consciously and very intentionally purchase such gifts from businesses that are in our communities because they have chosen to be there for the good of the community…as well as to make a honest living.

Let’s also be very clear about what is at stake. Your community businesses simply can not survive without your support. Though many are thriving, many are facing the same challenges that individuals and local governments are. Some are truly hurting. Your active support is vital for their financial survival and as importantly for the morale of the owners and staff alike.

Shifting your Shopping for the Holidays gives multiple gifts

Your thoughtful holiday purchases have much more power than you may realize. Buy joyfully! By making those purchases, you are giving a real gift to those businesses while helping to build a strong local economy.

Some may call this “win, win”…I call it community, community.

Originally posted on...December 10th, 2010
2 comments

Letter from The Weekly Dig: The Aftermath Black Friday vs. Plaid Friday

The following letter comes from David Day, Arts and Entertainment Editor for The Weekly Dig:

The Weekly Dig Local Holiday Shopping Guide

Dear Reader,

By most accounts, Black Friday was a stunning success. According to the National Retail Federation, 212 million people shopped, up from 195 million last year. The Buy Local movement of “Plaid Friday” was equally successful, with #plaidfriday becoming a top trend on Twitter. And, at a Target in Buffalo, N.Y. a few people were almost trampled to death.

But what does the rush to buy cheap sh*t say about the economy at large?

It could well be that the frenzy caused by incredible discounts are in fact a result of people having less money. We are incredibly broke, so the need to maximize our shopping dollar is more important than ever.

Of course, your friendly Dig staff is encouraging you to maximize your shopping dollar in a different way: by spending it with your neighbor. We have been pounding the “buy local” bush since our inception, in a way, but this year, and every year for the time being, buying local is really, honestly, super important. Are you following through?

If you need help, turn to our annual shopping guide, where the hard-working tandem of Courtney Cox and Taylor Seidler bounced around town getting the scoop from some of our favorite local shops. We have 25 days until the … special … day … or week (or month), so time is of the essence. There’s also a showcase of three stores for those ski bunsters among you.

Here’s a thought: Use our guide to buy something. There’s a lot to choose from, all of it local and relatively inexpensive. Your aunt doesn’t need a new flat-screen to watch Dr. Phil—she needs an airplant.

Tell them the Dig sent you.

Originally posted on...December 8th, 2010
0 comments

Photos from The Boston Local Food Festival

by Joe Grafton

It’s pretty safe to say that The Boston Local Food Festival presented by The Sustainable Business Network of Great Boston exceeded everyones expectations. While estimates have yet to be announced, I was there and think the number is at least 10,000 people, and likely many many more.

Here’s a selection of images from the day

A view from behind the stage....the festival was supposed to close down one of the bridges, but the night before the permit was not approved by the city. Instead, a dense network of vendor tents on the lawn made things a little tight but packed with local love.

Festival Sponsor, Katsiroubas Brothers Fruit & Produce

Unsurprisingly, the area in front of the Taza Chocolate booth was packed

Cooking Demos, like this one by friend & SLF Blogger JJ Gonson, were a hit....

...as were butchering demos. Bringing meat eaters closer to their food.

The festival was packed all day long. This was taken the @ 3:00 PM.

Some great roots music took the stage to close things out

The festival organizing team: Emily Kanter (Festival Organizer), Laury Hammel (SBN Executive Director), Erwin (Festival Organizer), Fan Watkinson (Festival Organizer), Nicola Williams (Lead Festival Organizer)

Finally, here’s an interview with festival organizers (with a late appearance form me) from a documentarian traveling across the country on a cross country, called the Sustainable 1000, doing 1,000 interviews in 250 days.