Going local Tap into the green benefits of buying and selling close to home

E OR MOST indePendent business

I-' owners. the idea of buying local is pretty familiar-at least with respect to our own businesses.

We know that money spent in our stores, from folks in our own community, tends to stay in the community. A good chunk of our salaries and those of our employees will likely be spent and invested locally, for other goods and services, as well as contribute to local taxes that pay for fire, police, and other municipal services.

Awareness of these benefits is spreading and giving rise to hundreds of buy-local campaigns that could be an important component of your green strategy.

Recently, the media has covered the growing interest in buying locally produced food, as "locavores" seek to reduce the "food miles" and carbon footprint of their daily meals. Right alongside, the shop local movement has been quietly picking up steam.

Organizations like BALLE, the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (www.livingeconomies.org), and AMIBA, the American Independent Business Alliance (www.amiba.net), and a few others are experiencing rapid growth. Combined, they represent over 30,000 independent businesses and over 130 local networks, with the bulk of those forming over the last two years. Not surprisingly, a growing number of these businesses are LBM dealers.

"Joining an independent business alliance, or starting one in your local community, is not unlike joining a co- op, where members can benefit from group buying on advertising, supplies, etc.," says Jeff Milchen, co-founder of AMIBA. Milchen counts the recession and growing interest in reducing environmental impacts as two of the main drivers lifting the number of independent business alliances they work with from 30 before the recession to an anticipated 75 by year's end.

Both organizations provide support to locally focused business networks to educate the community about the benefits of buying and "thinking local." BALLE's Alissa Barron points out that there's a strong economic case for local businesses to form col-

By Jay Tompt

for buying renewable energy."

Seeking to tap this trend with some innovative twists is San Francisco start-up Viv (www.doyouviv.com).

It's a forward-thinking rewards program that helps green customers entice participating retailers to continuously green their operations with a simple card scan. The businesses take green steps based on the number of customer visits, while the Viv team offers consulting, free energy audits, and discounts from affiliated wholesalers. Meanwhile, customers can share pride in a business' accomplishments and become more loyal.

For most independent LBM dealers, this trend plays to your natural advantage, but you can't sit on your hands. Join your local network, put signs in your windows, buy your supplies locally, and start educating your customersboth contractors and homeowners-about the community benefits of buying local.

laborative networks that promote buying locally. "Dollars spent at locally owned businesses circulate in the community two to four times longer, and do two to four times more good, than those spent with chains," says Barron. "We're also finding that businesses end up collaborating on broader issues, too, like pooling resources

There may be opportunities to pool resources with fellow local businesses, too. If you're sourcing local materials, make sure to point them out-they can also contribute to LEED regional credits. All in all, by fully embracing your local selves, your business will benefit and your community will, too.

- Jay Tompt is managing partner of William Verde & Associates, a consuhing firm dedicated to helping LBM and home channel retailers, distributors, and manufacturers become green leaders in their communities. He can be reached at info@ williamverdetom or (4 I 5 ) 32 I0848.

Yard Spins Off High-End Showroom

Everglades Lumber & Building Supply, Miami, Fl., celebrated the opening of a new design showroom with an evening reception attended by nearly 500 architects, contractors, and interior designers-and their clients.

"Our lumberyard and building materials business has suffered like everything else in this economy," said c.e.o. Ovi Vento. "But clur high-end division has given us an extra boost tcr help us wcather this tough economy."

For thc past six years, the showroom had operated inside the yard's

Arson Levels Texas Dealer

Investigators suspect burglars may have set fire to Furr's Building Materials, Mineral Wclls, Tx., to hide their tracks.

The 53-year-old yard lost its main shop and storage building in an Oct. l6 blaze intensified by the absence of a fire hydrant within a half-mile.

Policc later discovered the store's safe was drilled and cash had been removed.

Thompson Mahogany Merges With EastTeak Hardwoods

East Teak Finc Hardwoods, Dallas, Tx., has acquired fellow hardwood importer Thompson Mahogany Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

Thompson Mahogany will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of East Teak, yet will maintain full operational autonomy from its Philadelphia headquarters, under existing president Don Thompson.

"Thompson Mahogany joining the East Teak family offers many benefits, including a strong customer base across North America, a complemen- main building. After Expo Design closed its two showrooms in the Miami area, Evcrglades decided to fill the void by moving the in-house showroom to its own 10,000-sq. ft. space. (Since 2004, it has also had a design showroom in Boca Raton.) tary product line, the addition of direct suppliers in South America and Africa, and an expanded distributor network," said Wayne Rogers, president and c.e.o. of East Teak.

"The perception is that we are a lumberyard and we sell building material and construction material, not high-end products," said Vento. "So it was important fbr us to expand and put our showroom in a freestanding buildins."

Established in 1843, Thompson Mahogany ships tropical hardwoods into the ports of Philadelphia and Camdcn. N.J.

Founded in 1912, East Teak operates sules and milling centers in Donalds, S.C., and Sultan, Wa.

Pike Building Hardwood Mill

Pike Lumber Co., northern Indiana's largest manufacturer and distributor of kiln-dried hardwood lumber, will spend over $-5 million to build a 25,000-sq. ft. sawmill in Milan.In.

Founded in 1904, Pike currently employs 180 at facilities in Akron and Carbon, In. The Milan sawmill, expected to start up by November 20 1 0, will add another 20 jobs

"The Milan project is the largest, single capital investment in our 105year history," said Jim Mulligan, director of corporate development.

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