Economic Stimulus For the Twin Cities: Spend $50 in Three Independent Stores

I read this blog post suggesting a way to help save the economy is to redirect $150 of every shopper's monthly budget from nationwide chain stores to local independent businesses. The blog's author, local retail consultant Cinda Baxter launched the 3/50 Project which asks consumers to pick three local shops, restaurants, movie theaters, ones that you would miss if they went out of business, and spend $50 at each every month.

And it got me thinking about where I spend my money. I've gotten into the habit of doing most of my shopping at one store (can you guess? Yes, Target) because it's so much easier to go to just one store with my kids in tow. So this month, I've been thinking where I shop for what I'm planning to buy, and whether I could spend my dollars at a local store instead of a national retailer. Here's how I did.

Independent Business 1

My son turned three this month, so the first local, independent store I visited was Choo Choo Bob's Train Store in St. Paul for some Thomas trains, and other model railroad toys. Target sells Thomas the Train too, and their prices are slightly lower than Choo Choo Bob's. But Choo Choo Bob's has a much wider selection of train merchandise, and the train tables set up at the back of the store for children to play with make this the much better shopping destination for little rail fans.

Spent at a local store instead of a chain: $46.56

Independent Business 2

Now the weather is getting warmer, I'm looking forward to the first weekend that I can get free to go rock climbing. I needed some new climbing gear, so instead of going to REI, I went to Midwest Mountaineering on the West Bank in Minneapolis. Midwest Mountaineering's prices are comparable to REI, and they have coupons and special offers available to anyone who signs up for their email list. I saved $10 with one of those coupons. Midwest Mountaineering has a free-to-use bouldering cave to for indoor practice, and offers several free classes and clinics every month on outdoor pursuits. And later this month, their Outdoor Adventure Expo, a twice-yearly event, has demonstrations and vendors and big discounts on everything in store. So now I'm kitted out and crossing my fingers that the weather holds to climb this weekend.

Spent at a local store instead of a chain: $93.45

Independent Business 3

Today, I'm quietly congratulating surviving Spring Break and keeping three children all under age six entertained for a week. Moms work best with a little caffeine, so one sunny spring day last week, I packed up all the kids and took them to Java Train in St. Paul. This coffee shop has a playroom inside and a playhouse and sandbox outside. Coffee for me, treats for the children, and three children happily occupied playing in the sand. Are there any Starbucks that offer that?

Spent at a local business instead of a chain: $12.67

So how did I do? It's not $50 in each store, but it adds up to over $150 to independent businesses. And if I keep this up, and other locals do likewise, then that adds up to a lot of dollars that stay in the Twin Cities economy, rather than going to a corporation out of state, or out of the country. Economists estimate that for every $100 spent in local stores, an average of $68 stays in the local economy. For every $100 spent in a national chain, an average of $48 stays in the local economy.

Chain stores usually - but not always - beat the independent retailers on price. The independent retailers often leave the chain store retailers in the dust with the extras they offer. When consumers factor that into their purchases, an independent retailer can be much, much better value for money.