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September 2011
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Wellington Motors was recently announced as one of 18 FIAT dealers opening across Ontario. The dealership is expanding with the addition of a 2,000 square foot dedicated FIAT Studio. Pictured at the ground-breaking event, left to right: Paul Everest (District Manager Chrysler Canada), Phil Orobono (Gridline), Frank Valeriote, Mike Woods, and Ted Woods.
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The Europeans have a bumper sticker that says ‘eat your view’–meant to drive home the point that if you want to preserve the views from your window, you should eat from the food chain that created them. In recent years, the concept of buying locally produced food has gained more momentum. The Guelph Wellington Local Food initiative with the taste~real brand has not only increased consumer spending from local producers, but many local restaurants are now also using local produce for their menu. Purchasing locally produced foods provides a healthier, fresher product and benefits the environment by using fewer gas miles for transporting food. However, on a broader scale, should we not in fact be shopping our view? Shopping local is not a new concept, but is perhaps one that should be given more attention for the continued economic development of our community. "It is important to buy locally to build community, the economy and jobs,” says Kate Vsetula, Guelph
Wellington Local Food Initiative Coordinator. “When people invest into the local food economy by purchasing food from the region they invest in their health and the environment, they are also helping create sustainable food options for the future." In early 2009, Cinda Baxter, a Minneapolis-based retail consultant, wrote a blog post in response to an episode of Oprah, where the hour-long program advised consumers to stop discretionary spending. As someone who knows how small business works, Baxter found the program devastating. The post, meant for only a few friends, was the start of what would soon become an international movement to support locally owned businesses. Baxter’s idea was simple: if half of the employed U.S. population chose three locally owned independent businesses they would hate to lose, and then spent a combined total of $50 a month with them, it would have a major impact–generating an estimated $42.6 billion of revenue annually. Baxter spent a Sunday afternoon designing a
by Heather Grummett
website–www.the350project.net. Launched in March of 2009, it drew 7,600 unique visitors in seven days. By early November, more than 12,800 businesses had become supporters, there were 21,600 Facebook fans, and absolute unique hits were at 203,700. The website now lists independent businesses across the U.S., Canada and into Australia, and soon Europe. A phone App allows visitors to find local registered shops when they travel. The 3/50 Project takes a realistic approach. “We’re the only buy local movement that doesn’t ask consumers to stop going to big boxes. I understand that while you can find many things in a local business, there are some items that people will continue to go to big boxes for. We just ask them to balance their spending a little better; that all or nothing mentality is what got us into this mess in the first place,” states Baxter. “Local businesses make our community go. Money made in Guelph and money spent in Guelph provides a living for the people living here. Cont’d on page 10
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