Prov Shops and Restaurants to Celebrate Indie Week by Offering Special Discounts
Friday, July 03, 2015
More than 70 locally owned shops and restaurants will offer special discounts to customers through July 7 as part of the national “Independents Week” campaign, which is designed to support small businesses during a long holiday weekend when shoppers are usually busy with cookouts and the beach. Clustered primarily in Providence, the participating businesses range from boutiques and florists to bakeries and jewelers.
National Independents Week is modeled on the “Small Business Saturday” campaign that occurs on the day after “Black Friday” in November. The local “Indie Week” campaign is coordinated by the Rhode Island Foundation through its Buy Local RI initiative.
“Shopping at neighborhood stores and restaurants can pay big dividends. These are purchases that we already make, so no additional spending is necessary. The benefits multiply as the money moves through our economy,” said Jess David, the Foundation’s vice president of strategy and community investments. “As local businesses grow, they will expand and add to their workforce.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn order to take advantage of the Indie Week discounts, shoppers must download a coupon from the Buy Local RI website that is good for specials at participating retailers and restaurants statewide. The coupon can also be displayed on a smart phone.
Dixie Howell of J. Marcel in Providence is offering 20 percent off every purchase at her Hope Street boutique, which offers clothing, footwear and fragrances among other products. "More than just somewhere to shop, local businesses are places where neighbors build bonds and ideas take root. Shopping locally is an investment in your own community. Supporting local shops and restaurants enhances their capacity to invest in the community economically as well as culturally," said Dixie Carroll.
The Foundation is working with the Hope Street Merchants Association, The Arcade, the Wickenden Area Merchants Association, In Downcity, the South Main Street Neighborhood Association, the Providence Foundation and the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, which will distribute the discount coupons to the estimated 6,000 people who are expected to attend the North American Irish Dancing Championships in Providence over the weekend.
Shifting just 10 percent of the spending that Rhode Island shoppers do from chains to independent, locally owned businesses has the potential to add $373 million to the state’s economy, according to research commissioned by the Foundation last year.
The study estimates that 57 percent of spending with locally owned businesses stays in the state’s economy compared to just 13.6 percent of spending at major national chains.
In 2014, the Foundation awarded $34.8 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising and grant making activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential.
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