The 3/50 Project Takes Aim At Local Business

Store owners like Greg Harvell are finding strength in numbers.

“We've got to stop and look at local first,” says the owner of G. Harvell Clothier emphatically. He's one of a handful of Mobile business owners signed on to The 3/50 Project. The Mighigan-based website encourages people to pick three local businesses they couldn't live without and then try to spend at least $50 a month in their community.

“You're really paying for customer service that is huge in this business today and that's what we pride ourselves on is customer service,” says Harvell. Business owners that have signed up with the project say one of their biggest challenges is to dispel some myths about shopping locally.

“Just because you buy it in New York or New Orleans or Atlanta doesn't make it better it just makes it more expensive,” says Harvell. The website says 68% of what you spend in a local shop goes back into the community while only about 43% stays here if you shop at a chain. Bienville Books owner Russ Adams says he's got to work hard to get people to shop there as opposed to a Barnes and Noble.

“Conduct business as normal and just really thank them, especially when they buy a new book or one they could get from the internet,” says Russ Adams. Villa Dauphine is another business that’s part of the website. Most business owners haven't noticed a huge impact from the project yet but would prefer mobile money stays in Mobile.

“It doesn't matter what your needs are if you purchase through an independent store your money is going to stay here in the community,” says Villa Dauphine Co-Owner Sue Ellen Gallaspy. Businesses can sign up for the project for free online. 3/50 Project founder Cinda Baxter says she doesn't advocate abandoning chain stores altogether. She says consumers should spread their spending dollars around to both local and nationally run businesses.