I don't normally share things like this, but I feel this one is too important to not share.
http://jan.ocregister.com/2010/11/15/shop-at-small-biz-receive-bonus/49488/ (http://jan.ocregister.com/2010/11/15/shop-at-small-biz-receive-bonus/49488/)
Shop at small biz, receive bonus
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are well-known features of the annual Christmas shopping season. Now comes Small Business Saturday on Nov. 27 to encourage Americans to shop at independently owned local businesses.
Small Business Saturday and the broader 3/50 Project encourage every American to identify 3 locally owned small businesses they can do without and spend $50 at these businesses.
For Small Business Saturday: http://smallbusinesssaturday.com/ (http://smallbusinesssaturday.com/)
* The first 100,000 American Express cardholders who preregister then spend $25 at an independently owned small business on Nov. 27 will receive a $25 credit on their monthly statement.
* And the first 10,000 business owners who sign up will receive $100 in free Facebook advertising.
http://www.the350project.net/home.html (http://www.the350project.net/home.html)
(http://www.the350project.net/images_2/home_103110/home_background_v3a_17.jpg)(http://www.the350project.net/images_2/home_103110/home_background_v3a_18.jpg)(http://www.the350project.net/images_2/home_103110/home_background_v3a_19.jpg)(http://www.the350project.net/images_2/home_103110/home_background_v3a_20.jpg)
I saw the AE ads on TV yesterday during the Cowboys/Saints game and thought that was a great idea! The big box stores always rake it in leaving bread crumbs for the local small businesses. Especially during this important retail season. I love giving my business to the local stores and restaurants. Heck, even if it is a McDonalds or Jack in the Box it still is locally owned and staffed. I always try to spread my purchases out to the local bike shops and not get everything on line. Yeah, that K&N oil filter might cost me more but if everybody bought on line/mail order that local shop might have to close it's doors and that staff would be out of work.
Spread it around people! [thumbsup] [beer]
It's a great idea.
Too bad the only AE card I have is a Corporate Card, which is not eligible for this program. >:(
I'll go support my local small businesses with cash or Visa, instead! [thumbsup]
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on November 26, 2010, 12:24:53 PM
It's a great idea.
Too bad the only AE card I have is a Corporate Card, which is not eligible for this program. >:(
I'll go support my local small businesses with cash or Visa, instead! [thumbsup]
yeah, absolutely. the rewards are from AE, which I only have a corporate one as well. But I'm going to spend cash at the place I go today. It's more a change of mindset than how you pay for it, I think. Sure I can save a nickel on toilet paper of I go to <insert evil corporate store>, but what is it costing my community? yeah, I can mail order that stuff and save $5 and get free shipping, but at what cost?
Wife and I sat down this morning and thought about what businesses we could support and based on dining out we can probably do $120/month without breaking a sweat. We only eat out about once a week, but with 3 kids and a drink from the bar for the wife and I, that easily makes a $40 dinner.
Other expenses I had to think more about. There are a couple independent moto-stores I can start using instead of Cycle Gear. The challenges for me are music/movies and electronics. Don't really have any local small businesses for that stuff that I know of. I need to dig around a little more.
my wife and I go out for dinner usually once a week (or every other). It's always to one of several locally owned places for that very reason. Shopping for durable goods is much harder since the locals are largely gone. Do what you can as you can I suppose.
I found a local Red Wing dealer and picked up a pair of new engineer boots that I have been wanting for a while. I was tempted to try on the pair that I wanted, then order online, but I felt it was wrong. I ended up paying $15 more than if I ordered through Zappos, but the guys at the shoe store were super nice, and very knowledgeable. It felt good killing two birds with one stone... a quality American product from a great mom and pop shoe store.
[thumbsup] Good on you! [clap]
as a small town, small scale retail owner this new internet thing is gonna be the end of me. always remember, websites don't great you with a smile [thumbsup]
The program has been extended to EVERY DAY through 12/31/2010.
https://enroll.amexnetwork.com/US/sbs/
[thumbsup]
Quote from: cbartlett419 on November 27, 2010, 04:59:34 PM
as a small town, small scale retail owner this new internet thing is gonna be the end of me. always remember, websites don't great you with a smile [thumbsup]
I'm one of those types that likes to touch and feel something before I buy it. And I prefer instant gratification. Plus too many bad experiences with stuff disappearing in transit to never be recovered. About the only online shopping do is monsterparts and CA Cycleworks.
I hate the whole hassle of returning something if it shows up defective. Received a jacket as a gift once with a broken zipper. Everything else was fine, but one zipper didn't have a pull on it (well it did, until I pulled on it and off it came). Gifter bought it online and it was a complete hassle to get it exchanged. Not even returned, just exchanged. If it'd been brick/mortar store I could've walked in with a receipt and walked out with a new jacket and ridden in it that day.