Tim Allen of Tim Allen Equipment & Roseburg Rental explains how your local purchasing benefits the local economy. Listen here

Shift your Shopping to a local independent business this holiday! Read more here

Shift Your Shopping to a Local Independent Business

This November marks the launch of an unprecedented collaboration among advocates for local independent business by promoting the Shift Your Shopping Campaign.  Representing over 38,000 locally owned and independent businesses across the U.S. and Canada, Shift Your Shopping will encourage residents and businesses to make a “Shift” by buying from local independent businesses for the holiday season.  Shift Your Shopping offers a simple, powerful way to boost our economy and preserve and create jobs in our local communities.

“We’re encouraging the community to shift purchases of food, gift cards, flowers and other holiday offerings to local businesses that are owned by and employ your family and friends. You may just experience better customer service and a sense of good will by giving a gift to your community,” said Virginia Elandt, Director of Think Local Umpqua.

Americans are about to spend a large portion of their annual shopping budget between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31—the National Retail Federation predicts about $700 per shopper. Numerous studies show that if those dollars are shifted to locally owned, independent businesses, they’ll generate 2-3 times as much economic activity in local communities than if that money had been spent at a national chain. If 10% of Douglas County over the age of 18 spent that money locally, that’s an additional $6 million dollars of local economic impact.

The campaign encourages residents to take job creation and economic concerns into their own hands by exercising their power to strengthen their own local economies.  “Our locally-owned businesses are an integral part of our community. They donate their time and talents throughout the year. Let’s support them this holiday season by returning the favor and spending our money where it makes a difference, right here,” said Virginia. Locally owned businesses typically generate up to three times the local economic activity of national chains because independents spend more money in the local area, including using more local goods and services such as banking, printing, advertising, legal services, furnishings and more. Through this “multiplier effect,” the added taxes collected from local expenditures provide support for local schools, parks, law enforcement and more.

Think Local Umpqua, represents over 200 locally owned independent businesses from Douglas County and is taking part of the Shift Your Shopping Campaign here.  Shift Your Shopping will run from November 1^st through the end of December. A list of national Shift Your Shopping events, participants, and resources is now available at ShiftYourShopping.org.  For information on local events and Think Local Umpqua businesses please visit www.thinklocalumpqua.com.

The Lockout Guys

1072 NE Stephens Street, Roseburg

541-673-5626

Your 24 hour Local full service locksmith.  The Lockout Guys specialize in home and vehicle lockouts. They also make high security keys and transponder chip keys. They sell and program vehicle remotes. They rekey and repair broken locks and sell security camera systems as well as residential alarm systems.

How YOU can make a difference: Tim Allen on Spending Locally

Think Local Umpqua is now accepting positions for a board seat. We are looking for a dynamic individual with fresh ideas about ways we can foster a vibrant local economy right here in Douglas County. If interested, please contact Virginia for more information at 541.673.4909 or velandt@umpquacdc.org.  

To our generous volunteers and local supporters for making our Get in the Guide event beautiful and tasteful! Special thanks to: Jennifer Coalwell, Elissa Olsen, Holm Made Toffee, Oh My Gato farm, Umpqua Dairy, Aromaticas Feast, Jasmine’s Catering and Raise Your Glass!

“Get in the Guide” party January 26th at The Grand, 736 SE Cass St. in Roseburg . The event starts at 4:30pm and will include signups for the annual Think Local Umpqua Local Pages. Typically there will be 10,000 copies available for circulation each year.

On top of guide signups, there will be the opportunity to learn more about the organization and information about the nationwide movement toward “thinking local”. Some benefits of thinking local include:

•    Growing our own local economy.
•    Food Safety.
•    Broader product choice.
•    Community well being.
•    Local decision making.
•    Prosperity.
•    Entrepreneurship.
•    Friends & neighbors.

Guide listings are just $25

Business membership is just $120 for the year and includes many member benefits as well as the opportunity to contribute to the vitality of Douglas County.

Individual memberships offer the same benefits and opportunities as business memberships, but at a reduced rate of just $60
For more information visit the Think Local Umpqua website or call 541-673-4909.

January 19th, 6:00pm-9:00pm - General membership - meeting
Umpqua Community Development Corporation, 605 SE Kane St, Roseburg

Check our events calendar >

Are you a Think Local member and have an event coming up? Let us know and we will post it for you.