No sooner had the words left my lips that my phone was buzzing with my business partner asking me if I had seen the story of Jim Black in Chagrin Falls, OH. I hadn’t… If you hadn’t either, let me give you the run down.

JIM BLACK FOR PRESIDENT!
Meet Jim Black. He’s a normal guy like you and I. He lives in his community. He works in his community. He has family and friends in his community. And, most of all – he cares about his community’s well being -  the good people (and businesses) that make Chagrin Falls such a great place to call home. (It’s on the the outskirts of Cleveland, OH).

Every town has iconic businesses that everybody just knows, just “there” as part of the ethos of the community. As a result, sometimes these businesses silently become part of the scenery – like the river that passes through town, or a bench in the town square. Unfortunately, people have a tendency to forget about things that aren’t the newest, shiniest, loudest – taking the “old” for granted. Chagrin Hardware is just one of these places, a well respected business that has been in town since 1857, and owned by the same family for last 72 years – a staple in the community, but is no stranger to the challenges that face small businesses today.

Local businesses often fall into the trap of waning popularity (and revenue) as new people move to town, new competition arrives, and new marketing pushes consumers toward other options. It’s just part of the reality that every local business owner understands and struggles with on a daily basis. For owners Schwind and Steve Shutts, this in not news to them – it’s part of the daily struggle of keeping doors open, paying staff, and keeping inventory on the shelves.

JIM BLACK: CASH MOBSTER!
Jim doesn’t seem to want to take credit for unleashing a tremendous outpouring of community support, but here’s what happened: He sent a simple email to about 40 of his friends, challenging, “Let’s show our support for one of our local businesses. I challenge everyone to spend AT LEAST $20 at the hardware on the 21st.” And it had begun – Jim’s email was forwarded, and forwarded again – making it to Facebook where it spawned again and again…

It was like Christmas at a toy store. By early morning, Chagrin Hardware was packed full of smiling, supportive shoppers! From regular locals there to support their long-time friends, to strangers coming from out of state. The phones were even ringing with people wanting to know what the store could ship to them!

Now, do me a favor and put yourself in the position of a struggling store owner. Whether you own a 150 year-old hardware store in Chagrin Falls, OH, or just opened a new boutique on Bainbridge Island, WA – your pulse becomes connected to the “ring-ring” of the bell, every time a customer walks through the front door. On a good day, the bell rings every few minutes. On slow days, the bell might ring every thirty minutes or so. On bad days, it might be an hour or two… Your pulse stops as the panic begins…

Now, imagine the bell starts ringing faster and faster throughout the day as an entire community appears in support. Instead of sending a “flash mob” to bring joy through singing and dancing, Jim Black unleashed a cash mob, full of supporters saying, “Hey, guys – it’s gonna be okay. Sometimes we just forget to say thanks, but we love you! We’re here for you, too!” And, they didn’t need some predatory “incentive” from Groupon (where 75%+ of the sticker price doesn’t end up in the register) – they put their money where there mouth was. $20 at a time.

Imagining this scene chokes me up a little bit… It’s why we started RelyLocal, and these are the stories that I love to hear every day. And, if you want to see how shifting just $10 of your existing monthly spending can make a HUGE impact in your community, check out our Occupy Main Street Calculator.

I don’t know what Jim Black does for a living, but he’s the kind of guy I’d partner with in a heartbeat. In fact, this story simply reminds me how privileged and honored we are to be partnering with Jim Blacks all over the country who are spending every minute of every day of their lives, working to support their local businesses (in order to strengthen their communities). Here are just a few of the local business cash-mobsters that we are proud to call our team:
Marty & Ellen Koellner – New Braunfels, TX
Joshua Morrison – Cleveland, TN
Mark Bossenbrook – Bozeman, MT
Stephen Orens – Newark, DE
Caressa Flannery – Frederick, MD
Ted Mortenson – Costa Mesa, CA
Sharlene Briggs – Littleton, CO
Sarah Napier – Bend, OR
Thane Bryenton – Olympia, WA
Alyssa Penman – Victorville, CA
Melien Levoie – Granby, CT
Judy McKnight – Hendersonville, NC
Mike Harrity – Parker, CO
Philip Gallo – Newcastle, PA
Choya Harden – Asheville, NC
Michelle Thayer – Kauai, HI
Jon & Christine Randall – Longview, WA
Brian Wilson – Prattville, AL

Alright, I’ll admit it – after scrolling through those names and seeing their smiley faces on their web pages, I’m a little overcome with emotion – thankful for the amazing talent, passion, and dedication coming from each of these phenomenal people. (I wish I had time to list everyone here…)

So, I guess the point of this post is partly to say “thanks” to Jim Black. But, also to tell our partners just how honored we are to be working with them all. Well done, friends – well done!

- Steve Ramsey
co-Founder, RelyLocal

P.S. If you are interested in joining the RelyLocal family, check here to learn more about launching a RelyLocal campaign in your area. We are currently looking for about 600 more partners across the U.S., and we’d love to hear from you!

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Hood River, OR in the Columbia Gorge is one of my favorite areas on the planet. From my early days of windsurfing there as a teenager, to more recent dreams of settling down there with my family, the town and community have always had a huge place in my heart. And, it’s not just the scenery – it’s the people and local businesses that make Hood River so great (and such a drive for tourist dollars).

So, why are my panties in such a knot? Walmart. Well, maybe not Walmart as much as the Hood River City Council who just voted to approve an additional 30,000 square foot expansion to the already massive 72,000 square foot storefront. All I can think of are the amazing views of Mt. Hood being blocked by more giant signs to another unnecessary “SuperCenter” (see my cheesy animation below…)

As I’ve said a number of times in my blogging and interviews, I’m not necessarily anti-Walmart overall. I’m as much of a capitalist as Sam Walton, I guess, so I can at least understand/respect/appreciate the desire for a company to grow, grow, and grow… That said, I’m certainly a bigger fan of small local businesses in Hood River, and here are a few reasons I don’t think Hood River needs a Walmart at all (let alone a 102,000 sqft monster).

1. Character and Community
Hood River is a thriving tourist town that has built itself around the outdoor recreation, but is second-to-none when it comes to quaint, small, independent, locally-owned businesses. In order to be part of a community, you have to contribute to its ethos. I don’t see how more Walmart in Hood River is going to contribute to anything except less character and less community.

2. Local Dollars Staying Local
We almost moved to Hood River last year, but one of the reasons we didn’t was because the historic library couldn’t even remain open due to a shortage in necessary revenue to remain operational. For every dollar spent in Walmart, a tiny fraction stays in the community (there are too many studies about this to even mention…) How is a bigger Walmart going to help the Library or Public Schools? (Use this little calculator to see what a $10/mo shift in local spending could mean to the community (using the 22,000 county population as a guide, it’s over $1.5Mil/year)

3. Local Decision Making
With square footage comes money. With more money comes more power (and influence). I’d much rather have my local business owners and residents calling the shots on community issues in Hood River than somebody in a windowless cubicle in Bentonville, Arkansas. Want to keep a voice in the community? Support your local decision makers.

4. Environmental Issues
I’m no hippie, but I have always certainly appreciated the strong stances on environmental issues that have always been a natural fit from the Columbia River Gorge. With the crystal-blue skies, reflecting in the icy blue streams that flow through the rolling orchards and farmlands, it makes sense for Hood River to oppose Walmart’s expansion on environmental concerns alone. (Walmart’s 8,000 drivers burn over 118 Million gallons of fuel each year – over 4x the Exxon Valdex spill.)

5. Product Diversity and Competition
There are already several grocery stores in town. There are a couple of great hardware stores in town. And, heck – if you need 80 rolls of toilet paper, there is already a Costco down the road in The Dalles. The nice think about local merchants all competing (against one another) is that is drives innovation for a greater product diversity (that “thing” you can’t get anywhere). With Walmart, you get what you get, wherever you are…

Here’s a great graphic from Frugal Dad that gives some great visual representations of just how HUGE WalMart really is… Rather than spoil the creativity with a summary of the data, check it out for yourself:

Not to mention, why is there a Walmart in Hood River, anyway? The town only has a population of about 7,500 residents, and nearby Portland certainly has enough Walmarts for everyone. ;^>

We would LOVE to partner with somebody in Hood River to launch a RelyLocal campaign in the Gorge. Get a hold of us, if you are interested in getting involved in ways to ensure that Hood River’s local businesses and wonderful community are here to stay.

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Our Partners: We have the amazing honor and privilege to be partnered with hundreds of like-minded individuals across the country who are devoting their lives to rebuilding their local economies in order to help their communities grow and prosper. We had the pleasure to spend time with about fifty of these partners (and their teams) during our fall tour, and – I kid you not – many of these folks have the passion, vision, and support to run for Mayor in their towns! Thanks for being a part of it all with us! We couldn’t do it without you!

Our Members: It’s pretty humbling to have partners join the cause, but it’s a little overwhelming to have tens of thousands of businesses across the country from Hawaii to Florida, joining RelyLocal – not just for the tangible services, but to make a statement, as part of the cause. To put it simply – we are humbly honored by the support of local businesses across the country. It’s why we do what we do every day!

Our Team: We have a fairly odd and distributed team of leadership, management, support, business development, and developers. Some are full time, some are part time, some are freelancers – spread across 10 states. While we all have varied backgrounds, locations, and specialties, we are united by one thing: rebuilding local economies.

Our Own Local Favorites: I live in a small town and I wouldn’t have it any way. This morning I had a quick breakfast at a local diner, only to be greeted by name by both waitresses and cook on my way in and given a “Happy Thanksgiving” hug on my way out the door. I’m just as thankful for my local bookstore who hosts about 14 book clubs each week and supports local authors every day. I’m thankful for the local hardware store that carries the random bits and pieces that I’d never find at Home Depot, I’m thankful for the local barber who’s had his shop on the same corner for 36 years and knows every kid by name. I’m thankful for my local accountant who saves me from grave mistakes that TurboTax can’t touch. I’m thankful for the local coffee shop that supports budding local musicians. I’m thankful for the local movie theater that runs more indie films and documentaries than I ever saw in the “big” city. I’m thankful for the I’m thankful for the farmers and artisans at the Saturday market, helping me eat more freshly and healthily while supporting my neighbors…

So – thanks to all of you who make every day such a joy!
- Steve Ramsey
co-Founder of RelyLocal

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It’s official – the tour has begun! Tonight: Snoqualmie, WA. Tomorrow: Coeur d’ Alene, ID. Friday: Kalispell, MT. And so on, and so on… 15,000 miles, 32 states, almost 100 events on the schedule so far. Yes – we are completely insane!

We’ll be sure to post some of the highlights here on the blog along with photos along the way. Stay tuned!

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In addition to speaking with groups on subjects like “Why Local Business Matters In The New Economy” or more hands-on subjects like “Bootcamp: Catching-Up To Modern Marketing”, the couple will also be filming interviews with local business owners for the upcoming “Local Business Matters” media project.

Additionally, much of their time will be spent with regional RelyLocal  groups to brainstorm more ways to help local businesses compete in the new economy and how best to use emerging technologies and trends to connect with consumers.

Below is the general schedule. Whether it’s at a formal event, or just around the campfire – we’ll look forward to seeing you soon!

Sep 16 Seattle, WA
Sep 17 Spokane, WA
Sep 18 Kalispell, ID
Sep 19 Bozeman, MT (via Helena)
Sep 20 Billings, MT
Sep 21 Cheyenne, WY
Sep 22 Littleton, CO
Sep 23 Denver, CO
Sep 24 Kansas City, KS
Sep 25 Cape Giradeau, MO
Sep 26 Franklin, TN
Sep 27 Pratville, AL
Sep 28 Pensacola, FL
Sep 29 Atlanta, GA
Sep 30 Gainesville, GA
Oct 1 Martinez, GA
Oct 2 Columbia, SC
Oct 3 Mt Pleasant, SC
Oct 4 Wilmington, NC
Oct 5 Huntersville, NC
Oct 6 Hendersonville, NC
Oct 7 Asheville, NC
Oct 8 Wilson NC (Via Kernersville)
Oct 16 Virgina Beach, VA
Oct 17 Sussex,Dover/Newark, DE
Oct 18 Wilmington, DE
Oct 19 Wayne, NJ
Oct 20 Granby/New Britain, CT
Oct 21 Fall River, MA – Manchester, NH
Oct 22 Maine/Vermont
Oct 23 Maine/Vermont
Oct 24 Ulster County
Oct 25 Lancaster/Ephrata PA
Oct 26 Martinsburg, WV
Oct 27 Frederick, MD
Oct 28 Bowie, MD
Oct 29 Fairfax, VA
Oct 30 Arlington, CA
Oct 31 New Castle, PA
Nov 1 Trumbull County, OH/Sandusky
Nov 2 Midland, MI
Nov 3 Lansing
Nov 4 Muskegon, MI
Nov 5 Grand Rapids, MI
Nov 6 Holland, MI
Nov 7 South Bend, IN
Nov 8 Racine, WI
Nov 9 Wausau, WI (Via Oshkosh)
Nov 10 Rochester, MN (via Eau Claire, WI)
Nov 11 Sioux Falls, SD
Nov 12 Rawlins, WY
Nov 13 Boise, ID
Nov 14 Bend, OR

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“Swing by the brick-and-mortar store to see exactly what you want, but try looking on one of these websites — there’s a good chance you will find that machine for less” – Gregory Connne

My mother wouldn’t be proud, but I spoke with my mouth full. Actually, I more or less yelled, “Holy crap – are $#%ing you kidding me?!?!?” with bits of scone falling down my shirt.

This actually sparked up a great conversation with a couple of other “local”patrons that turned into a bit of an impromptu big tent revival. By the end of it all, I can assure you that everyone in the coffee shop had a better understanding of where their money goes when spent with online sites like NewEgg and TigerDirect vs. spending it with a local computer store.

Everybody *seemed* happy to spend a little extra knowing that at least a portion of their money spent locally stays local – to pay for jobs, schools, roads, etc…

So, my message to Mr. Conne is simply this, “Please wear your name tag every time you go shop at brick and mortars so the retailer will know that you are really just there to waste their time and resources and would rather send your money across the country than to support your local economy…”

It’s one thing to be duplicitous by wasting a company’s time and resources by utilizing their expertise and getting a hands-on feel for the products that they are selling.  But, it’s another thing to actually admit it! ;^>

(In case you all were wondering – yes, this article got under my skin! And yes, I realize that my response will likely get me RelyLocal on USA Today’s “naughty” list…)

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“Obviously, we are quite pleased,” noted company co-Founder, Steve Ramsey. “But, we had actually scaled back on the launching of any new territories in Q2 in an effort to control the growth while we focused on on the development of new programs that will go public in Q3.”

RelyLocal began as a small “buy local” campaign, offering low-cost marketing services to local businesses in Bend, OR. Within months, the company began to receive considerable interest from entrepreneurs who wanted to license the RelyLocal business model in their areas. Within the first year, RelyLocal had granted over 150 licenses, operating in more than 550 cities across the U.S., while creating approximately 600 new local jobs, and supporting almost local 80,000 businesses.

Ramsey admits, “We’d love to take all of the credit, but the ongoing growth is really because of the amazing work that our partners are doing in their communities! Across the country, from Olympia,WA or Parker, CO, to Asheville, NC, we have found some fantastic people to partner with! At the end of the day, this is their business, not ours – and the pride of ownership and creativity really shows!!”

RelyLocal is now searching for 937 new partners to launch the next phase of expansion, covering more than 1,200 cities nationwide. Previously, the company’s growth had mostly been the result of word-of-mouth referrals from existing partners.

After receiving hundreds of inquiries a week, RelyLocal has launched a new “Applications” section of their national web site that includes a series of detailed overviews, copies of the licensing agreements, along with a simplified process to apply for a RelyLocal license in their areas.

“We aren’t looking for get-rich-quick sales people,” says Ramsey. “Our goal has always been to affect change in the lives of our partners and communities. That’s why we are always on the lookout for community advocates who want to make a real long-term difference in their own lives and in their communities.”

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However, while this might seem like great news for small independent books sellers, it’s obviously a horrible turn of events for Border’s 10,700 employees who will now join the jobless numbers in the U.S.. The saying is true – the bigger they are, the harder they fall. (In an unrelated note, Cisco just announced they’ll be cutting 6,500 positions as well…)

Also bittersweet: While local brick and mortar stores may have an opportunity to re-gain “paper” customers, they have another tough hurdle to deal with – eBooks. With Amazon reporting that eBook editions are grossly outselling their paper counterparts for over a year now and publishers pulling back investments on new gambles, local booksellers shouldn’t waste any time celebrating the Borders news.

What niche will local bookstores find to avoid going the way of the travel agent in this growing digital landscape? Will they be able to adapt quickly enough to survive in a new form? We sure hope so…

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