The buy local movement has been a great boon to independent retailers and restaurants during a time when small businesses need all the help they can get.  Are you doing all you can to take advantage of the positive impact of this movement?

One new way to help brand yourself as an independent that has just made its debut.  Jack Ellerkamp, who is part of the second generation of the family-owned packaging company W G Ellerkamp located in Peterborough, New Hampshire, has created two sizes of 100% recycled kraft paper bags that proudly bear the buy local message.  These bags can be used as they are, or branded with either your logo or the logo of your buy local movement.

Ellerkamp is a strong believer in the importance of supporting locally owned business, and has created a very popular program of bags for the American Booksellers Association’s independent members.

The gussets, or side panels, of the new Buy Local bags bear copy that reminds us of many of the good reasons that customers should support locally owned businesses:

•Shopping locally preserves the character and vitality of the community, strengthens our local economy and makes this a better place to live.

•Money spent local stays local.

•Local business owners have a vested interest in the community: they live, work and pay taxes here. They care deeply about the wellbeing of the local community, the vibrancy of downtown, and the health of the local schools.

•Shopping locally reduces energy consumption and cost. It is good for the environment!

This is what Jack Ellerkamp has to say about these new bags:  “It is our sincere hope that these bags, in their own small, local way, will create a “buzz” that will get consumers talking more and more about the importance of buying local.  I truly believe that this bag can help to educate consumers and motivate them to do the right thing – support local retailers and restaurants. The idea for this bag is an extension of my affinity for all things local.  Local, independently owned businesses are the backbone & soul of our communities.”  To learn more about the bag project, contact Jack at 800.805.0012, or [email protected].

If you haven’t joined a buy local movement yet, this is a good time to do so — and if your community hasn’t started one, there are many resources available to help you.  Take a look at the Independent Retailer Resource Center (www.independentretailer.biz) that is provided as a service by GHTA, the Gift and Home Trade Association.  You will find countless links and articles there to get you started.

Happy Retailing,

Carol “Orange” Schroeder