Are you a localist?

THE HASHTAG TALK

Is it because I'm staring?

Or is the momentum of LOCAL really steaming ahead all around the US?

I'm not sure of the answer, but I am seeing more FB messages promoting and more people talking about the BUY LOCAL movement than ever before in my life. 

Jill Spitz, managing editor of the The Arizona Daily Star, recently initiated a website/FB page that, in part, highlights cool locally owned businesses, charities, and entertainment. I call it new age hippie stuff.   http://tucson.com/thisistucson/  BTW, Jill is one of the most connected people I know in Tucson; I think she  exemplifies healthy place attachment. She invests astounding time and energy in local entities that matter to her, such as the progressive Tucson Chinese Cultural Center and her son's unique charter school (all I did when my girls went to the same school was show up...an attitude that perhaps flows over into why I never felt very attached to Tucson) 

A little more traditional, I think, is how my new friend Sherry Abraham shines light on local business at the other end of Albuquerque from us through her connections with the Town Council and the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce. Ribbon Cuttings. Promotions on Facebook. Fun Events. 

On a wider scale, the Independence Business Alliance and affiliates have ramped up LOCAL campaigns all across the country.  Among other things, they initiate events Like Small Business Saturday, Buy Local Month...and did you know there's now even a 

RECORD STORE DAY? 

Rio Rancho can start celebrating this because an old ABQ record store was re-invented in RR when Cristy Records opened the door here on Nov 17. The goal is to promote New Mexico artists though the store is also a museum for musical history. Sounds like a happy place for bohemians and boomers alike! 

Research indicates that MORE PEOPLE ARE BUYING LOCAL AND IT MATTERS. The IBA website notes that  "a 2015 survey of more than 3000 business owners, independent business in communities with a long-term “buy local and independent campaign” reported revenue growth of 9.3%, nearly double the 4.9% increase for independent businesses not served by such efforts." http://www.amiba.net/buy-local-campaigns/

Did you notice?  

Local businesses INCREASED revenue in 2015 
EVEN 

WITHOUT THE BUY LOCAL HULLABALOO.  

But WITH IT, the revenue was more than twice as much! 

So I'd say social media, personal examples, 

and research converge to show that 

the mushrooming of the local movement is real, 

and I would likely see it a lot 

even if I were not looking at the faces of it. 

BUT...is it good to get a "ticket to ride" on this fast moving LOCAL train?

That depends on WHY you're riding.

No doubt, buying local circulates money around the local economy, and gives governments more funds to create better living conditions for all citizens. Like all the parks in Rio Rancho!

Based on that, local IS win-win. Mostly. 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BUT....I'm riding this train because I want to attach to my new community, and BUY LOCAL is one way Melody Warnick's book "The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live" indicates I can start to make PLACE ATTACHMENT. Local, when it all aligns right, makes me FEEL HAPPY. It makes me want to STAY here. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

If the reason for your ticket is to cut expenses, 

I'd advise jumping off the caboose. 

For me and for now, PLACE ATTACHMENT supersedes the full ride of financial savings programs such as Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. 

Sorry, but LOCAL does not equal 

short-term FRUGAL. 

It just doesn't.  

_______________________________________________________________

Buy Local

http://buyriorancho.com

RESULTS from LOVE YOUR CITY CHECKLIST Chapter 3, BUY LOCAL

1. Commit to buying 1 item locally.  For us, that's a service -- HAIRCUTS.  

2. Spend $50 each month among 3 locally owned businesses.  That's $16.66 each plus tax, Steve & I agreed upon: 

1. 1 eatery (Tao's Chinese on Southern Blvd); 
2. 1 store (Believer's on Southern Blvd.) and, as noted above, 
3. 1 service (haircuts). 

We'll probably spend more than that on each one, but that's our base. 

3. Consider unexpected benefits of buying local even if it costs more. Results: 

• Hair stylist made a special appointment on a Sunday for Haley so she could get her hair done during her Thanksgiving break from college. When she invited us to her church, we felt like we'd gained a new friend.

• Christian gift store took double pains to order a particular plaque that I asked about yesterday. The co-owner, Jayne, was the 1st person I met in Rio Rancho! I told her I was struggling over leaving my older daughters behind in Arizona. Lo and behold, she'd done the same thing when she moved here a few years ago. I immediately fell in love with this store! 

• And, well, the quality of the food at Tao's is better than ANY Chinese place we have ever eaten in the U.S. except in LA's Chinatown. Also, one time we got to briefly meet the awesome cooks at Tao's. I cannot think of any other Chinese restaurant that has introduced us to the chefs!
  
  

4. Shop at an indie business that gives back to the community.  

Blank on that so far. Not quite sure where to find this info. Until we do, we're going with RR & ABQ's CAFE BELLA -- website touts that  "Locally Micro Roaster gives 10% back to growers" although we don't really know what that means.

What we DO know is that CAFE BELLA reminds us of our hippie days, it feels good, it tastes fabulous (worth every extra dollar!).  http://www.cafebellacoffee.com

                                                                       

5. Attend a local cash mob. It's connecting with a group of strangers who each commit to buying X amount at a certain store during a certain time together. No one knows which store until the start time.

Couldn't find one in Rio Rancho. Checked out a FB page called ABQ Cash Mob. Looked like it worked for awhile, then the fav place seemed to be the ABQ Rail Yards, then it morphed into a charity work, and then, it vanished.  So, I'm going a Melody route...our $50 per month is our "individual cash mob" for local businesses. Plus, I have some issues with how early cash mobs were conducted such as safety, values, and wisdom. Melody gives them grace, tried them; and in some cities they are thriving. 

6. Don't showroom. That means seeing something in a store and then ordering it from a cheaper online outlet. 

I tried this once. Cost me 50% more at the ABQ bookstore. (Couldn't find a regular bookstore in Rio Rancho). 

7. Invest locally. 

The mortgage we're trying to obtain and the house we're trying to build are both through New Mexico companies. As well as our realtors who work through mom-and-pop type brokerages out of ABQ. http://palodurohomes.com

We'll see if it all falls together in due time. 

Honestly, though, we didn't select the builder BECAUSE it was a local company but because of the QUALITY of their product for people with allergies. In some ways it's been harder and in other ways easier than using national companies to try to do this. 

Again, we'll see if it all works out in due time.

In the meantime, we have invested in our community another way Melody suggests by joining a local credit unit. 

Oh, wait, WHAT is local? 

Not sure if there IS a Rio Rancho credit union per se. 

How about an ABQ one? Or an AREA credit union?  

Or a New Mexico credit union?  

WHAT IS LOCAL?

And THAT question brings us to the hashtags below.

TAKE-AWAY HASHTAG

##Whatislocalanyway
  ##RRABQNMAmerican-made?##isthereasweetspotforlocalvsgoodstewardship
##whataboutqualityandconsistency
##wannabealocalist?

NEXT INSTALLMENT:  Hashtag Discussion