Above, our custom fans were passed out during the Prairie Village Art Show.Have any of you heard of the 3/50 Project? If not, I want to tell you about the wave sweeping across small businesses in the U.S. What's so cool about this is my friend Cinda Baxter invented it! I met Cinda when I was asked to be on the GHTA retail advisory board in 2007. She had a successful store for many years and is now a buyer, consultant, national speaker and cheerleader for all things retail. The 3/50 Project was created out of necessity to get the message out that if you want your favorite brick and mortar stores to survive, you must support them! We need more than cheers and concern, we need your dollars. What I love about 3/50 is it is not all about me, it is about me and two more of your favorite stores!
Basically the 3/50 Project says this:
1. Pick 3 independently owned businesses you would miss if they disappeared. Stop in. Say hello. Pick up something that makes you smile. Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.
2. If half of the employed population spent $50 each month in these stores it would create over $42 billion in revenue.
3. For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend this money online, nothing comes home.
If you read this blog I assume you are a fan of Curious Sofa. Many of you shop in the store often and some of you we only see now and then. However often you frequent the store, it is almost impossible to have a conversation these days without a customer asking sincerely, "How are you guys doing?" Now if you make a living in retail you know how to answer these questions with the right amount of political correctness. I am not one for lying or even stretching the truth. I simply do not do it very well. I will always tell someone how we are really doing because it is just habit.
The truth is, we're fine. We're as fine as everyone else is. How's that? I know of no one who is flourishing right now. My staff and I are on board 200% to keep things alive at Curious Sofa for as long as you help. We're still having our events, buying new merchandise every week and the antiques are still coming (and going!) but we cannot survive without you no matter how creative we get- nor can any of your other favorite stores. Please take note of the 3/50 Project and do what you can to keep us all going. We want to continue to be here for you.
So for now, take a look at what we've been up to and believe it or not the Halloween and Christmas goods are already trickling in too!
More ruffled slipcovers just arrived.
One of two original antique Kewpie's I found last week.
The red, white and blue is flying proudly throughout the store.
A pair of vintage concrete eagles just in time for Independence Day.
This antique baby bathtub would be perfect for the household catch-all. I also love the distressed bench/coffee table.
Frosted antique glasses, summer cookbooks and vintage sailboat.
Our collection of salvage is growing too.
Our collection of salvage is growing too.
I love it when I find a pair of good vintage boots to sell.
This painted vintage buffet just in.
From a weekend road trip, this great collection of cigar boxes.
We've gone global.
Every summer we get the seashells out. I especially love them displayed in this grey cabinet.
Within a week I found this melange of modern items: 60's buffet, industrial light bulbs and vinyl rocker. A nice, clean change for us.
As always, hope to see you!
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