STAYING LOCAL and GREEN FOR PROFIT

Most of us are very aware of the growth of farmer's markets and local produce sales in our areas over the past few years. This has been a burgeoning market that has had great success. So why not take this idea and make it work for your own business?

Each of you has the capacity and the tool to put any product you desire on your site. Why not stay local with a good portion of what you do, just like you do with your groceries?

There are good reasons for buying local. It reduces the need for shipping costs, which reduces pollution and helps keep us greener and it supports your local community. A recent study done by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance found that for every $100 spent in a chain store, only $14 went to the local economy. For a locally-owned business, that number was $45.

You will find that local businesses will support and buy from one another and will create a community-based marketplace. It is not going to turn out that you can do everything locally, but you can put a portion of your business here.

Now how do you start? Your answer is birthdays! Start with your families, then your friends and then expand to everyone you know. Recognize, celebrate and suggest that they purchase from you for their birthday needs. Make yourself the birthday depot for your community. Talk to every store you know and work at handling their goods on your site. Make it fun and exciting. Visit the schools and the churches. Do specials for them and especially remember to have "special somethings" for the little ones.

Have fun with this and you will find that it will bring you rewards because you cannot win without your community winning with you.