Take a minute now and try to imagine what your neighborhood would be like without your locally-owned mom-and-pop shops. Do the terms "bland," "generic," "boring" come to mind?
Independently owned shops not only give your neighborhood its unique character, they also support the local economy in a myriad of ways. That's the premise behind small business advocacy campaigns like The 3/50 Project and American Express' Small Business Saturday.
Did you know that:
- A locally-owned shop returns 68% of its revenues to the local economy, whereas a national chain returns only 43%?
- Locally-owned shops employ more local residents and pay them substantially higher wages, in addition to having a broader range of jobs available?
- Local businesses buy more than twice as much from other local businesses, and also are more likely to use local banks and other service providers?
- Local businesses contribute more to the community through charitable giving, school funding, and other non-profit organizations?
And now, according to a recent study conducted by Civics Economics, there's one more reason to support small businesses: they help raise your property values.
The Small Business Saturday Shop Local event is November 26. When you register your American Express card in advance and shop at an independently owned small business on Small Business Saturday, American Express will reimburse you with a $25 statement credit! You can register your American Express card here.
Not only are you much more likely to discover some unexpected wonder or unique handmade treasure at an independent small business, but every dollar spent in a locally-owned shop is a vote for the health and welfare of your community.
Everyone wins when you "Shop SMALL" on Small Business Saturday!
It's that time of year again when we proudly support the Children's National Medical Center by sponsoring the "Care for Kids" Card campaign. The program is simple:
- Buy a "Care for Kids" card for $50 here
- get 20% off ALL purchases at more than 300 local shops and restaurants during the campaign period, from Oct. 21 through Oct. 30.
That's it! It's a great way to start your holiday gifts shopping while supporting a worthy non-profit. All proceeds from sales of the cards go directly to Children's National Medical Center, while the savings go directly to you!
In past years, the Care for Kids Campaign has contributed more than $1.5 million towards:
- a clinical simulation training laboratory
- a portable ultrasound machine
- summer camp for sickle cell patients
- a bright and cheerful playroom for patients in the respiratory care unit
Your purchase of the Care for Kids Card includes a catalog detailing the more than 300 shops and restaurants throughout the DC-area that are participating in the program. Purchase yours today!
I've always loved kaleidoscopes and found, even as an adult, that gazing at the wonderfully colorful and ever-changing world inside the scope had a soothing and calming influence on me. Well, apparently, I'm not the only one who feels that way. Dr. Clifford Kuhn, of the University of Kentucky, has this to say about kaleidoscopes:
Kaleidoscope viewing.... is restorative to the body in that it requires physical stillness and stimulates pleasant visual sensations. At the same time it has a beneficial effect on the mind by presenting an endless variety of form and color combinations that stir the imagination and stimulate the intellect.
Read the full scoop on kaleidoscope therapy on the Handcrafted Alexandria* blog, then enjoy a full month of kaleidoscope celebrations at our sister Handcrafted shop, Arts Afire.
*Mindful Hands is a proud member of Handcrafted Alexandria
