Why We Should Shop Locally

One of our account managers here at the magazine (thanks, Connie!) shared this interesting website with me called the 3/50 project. This project encourages shoppers to stop by three local retailers throughout the month and spend $50. Read more, courtesy of the350project.org:

3: What three independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared? Stop in. Say hello. Pick up something that brings a smile. Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.

50: If half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 the employed population did that.

68: For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, ony $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.

1: The number of people it takes the start the trend...you.

I signed up to support the "Pick 3. Spend 50. Save your local economy" idea.

For more information visit: the350project.org

Frustrated!

A while back I was informed by a blog reader and friend that my blog content was being posted on another blog, without any attribution to me. Simply put, the blogger was copying content straight from my blog and posting it on theirs as if it was written by them. Not cool!

It’s odd because the site traces back to a Bangladesh online shopping website, so most of my blog content doesn’t even pertain to the blogger anyway … since they’re not from Madison, Wis. I would post the link, but then that would send readers to this person’s site, and they don’t deserve the readership if they’re stealing content anyway :)

I’ve been told that dishonest bloggers can do this to direct traffic to their site, since the blog they’re stealing from already has steady followers. Anyway, there is not much we can do about it besides take down every single post they’ve taken, and re-post it. As such, I don’t feel that’s a good solution since then my old content will be re-posted as though I posted it today ... and some of the content this blogger has stolen is from past events and whatnot.

Sad. But I wanted to keep you all in the loop in my frustration on this :)

Shopping Events

Bad dog frida photo contest
Where: bad dog frida, 2094 Atwood Ave.
Details: Back by popular demand—bring in a pic of your fave furry friend and owners Carmen and Sue will post your photo in the shop’s window! Customers can then vote for their favorite photo. Votes will be counted and winners notified May 10. Turn in photos for consideration by March 31. (Pick up a cute doggie rain jacket like Geordie's sporting from bad dog frida, above!)
More info: 442-6868. baddogfrida.com

Lady Moxie Stiumlus Package II
Where: Lady Moxie, 6706 Odana Rd.
Details: The first three shoppers who spend $100 or more at the store will get a gift certificate for a free facial or waxing from Le Spa. The offer’s valid on March 20, 21 and 24, so stop in!
More info: 826-4268

Maxwell Street Days In March
Where: Fanny Garver Gallery, 230 State St.
Details: A longtime Best of Madison winner, Fanny Garver Gallery has always been known for fantastical blown glass, chic jewelry and gorgeous paintings. Here’s your chance to own some of these items at thirty percent up to fifty percent off. Sale goes through March 30. Also check out the gallery’s revamped website.
More info: 256-6755. fannygarvergallery.com


MMoCA glass sale
Where: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Store, 227 State St.
Details: Fifteen percent off selected glass items including salt and pepper shakers by Gazelle Glass, vases, bowls and paperweights by The Glass Eye, Alex Brand, John Pomp, Jamie Harris and Pizzichillo & Gordon. Through March 31.
More info: 257-3222. Mmoca.org

Prom Dress Bonanza
Where: HospiceCare Thrift Store, 122 Junction Rd.
Details: OK, I added the “Bonanza” part above—but the Thrift Store has over one hundred prom dresses in stock priced under twenty dollars. Yes, that’s $20 and, yes, that’s a bonanza.
More info: 833-4556

Congratulations

Another shout-out goes to Coni Marotz who owns Iconi Interiors. Marotz is celebrating her one-year anniversary tonight with special sales and deals. I first wrote about her store in our June 2008 issue and have stopped back many times since—she’s always got something new. My favorite items (as I’ve written about on this blog before) are most definitely the vintage jewelry pieces she hangs from jewelry trees and displays in the glass cases up front. I adore (and drool over) the chunky strands of baubles, hefty cocktail rings and statement bracelets that take up a few inches of wrist real estate. In my opinion, Iconi would fit right in in a chic Chicago neighborhood, or perhaps on a laid-back San Francisco street—and yet, we’re lucky to have her shop right here on West Washington Avenue.
(I loooove Coni's display of her vintage barware and her vintage framed wallpapers, below).
Iconi, 534 W. Washington Ave. 441-0077. iconiinteriors.com





Anthology celebrated their year anniversary last Saturday, March 14. Owners Laura and Sachi Komai already held festivities, but you can still stop in to check out all of their new items like recycled bottle-cap necklaces, vintage-inspired charm bracelet kits, stickers, books and much more. If you haven’t been to Anthology it’s one of those shops that you can easily walk in and spend under $10 if your wallet’s tight—or more if you’ve got it! I personally favor their decorative papers, cards and jewelry.
(A rack of Anthology's decorative papers and a display in the shop).
Anthology, 218 State St. 204-2644. anthology.typepad.com

A Favorite Green Product

You know those green products that can be very expensive and therefore difficult for many people to afford (I’m talking to you, designer silk dresses and organic mattresses)? Well, Ecotools are definitely not one of them. With prices from $1.99 to $12.99 it’s almost silly not to check these out. And I’m championing them because, yes, I use them! These makeup brushes are made of recycled stainless steel and aluminum, crushed walnuts, soybean oil and bamboo. The brushes and sets are stored in resusable pouches and printed with nontoxic ink. Ecotools are sold at Walgreens, ShopKo and Target (May 2009). (Shown is the bamboo five piece brush set)
eco-tools.com