VAIN Blog

Jason Hughes, owner of our neighbor Sonic Boom Records, has helped Ballard businesses get together and discuss the importance of shopping locally and supporting our own community. VAIN has joined this locally minded group, and wanted to share with you the message behind this movement:

Our neighborhoods are defined by the businesses that thrive within them. As business owners we are all concerned with the oncoming economic crisis and our ability to survive it. We ask that you please take a minute to think about the enormous power of your consumer dollar.

YOU HAVE A CHOICE WHERE TO SPEND YOUR MONEY: You are investing in your community by supporting the businesses that exist there. Embrace what makes our neighborhoods different. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of our community. Where we shop, where we eat and hang out – all of it makes this our home. That is what brought us here and will keep us here.

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR HOUSE IS: When you shop local, three times the revenue remains in your community, supporting parks, schools and more! For every $100 spent at a locallyowned business, $45 goes back into the community and our tax base.For every $100 spent at a chain store, only $14 comes back.

LIVE LOCAL/GIVE LOCAL: Independent businesses are the largest contributors to LOCAL charities. Non-profit organizations receive anaverage of 250% more support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses.

HELP THE ENVIRONMENT: Independent businesses make purchases requiring less transportation and are usually located in commercial corridors and in-town instead of developing on the fringe. This means less sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

GET BETTER SERVICE: Local businesses often hire people who have a better understanding of the products they’re selling, and take moretime to get to know their customers.

OUR FUTURE IS NOW:By standing by and supporting independent businesses today, you are investing in a unique and sustainable future for our community. Local businesses owners are people who live locally and are more invested in our future. Local businesses are also the largest employer nationally and they provide the most new jobs to residents.

If you have a favorite store, restaurant or service provider, we urge you to think about continuing your support to the best of your abilities. Please help insure that we are all here once the dust has settled. You can make a difference and we will ride the storm out together.

Every Thursday throughout December, VAIN Ballard and our participating neighbors will stay open additional hours, until 9 pm. Come visit us and our community!

xo,

VAIN Ballard

5401 Ballard Avenue NW