June 25, 2007
Group aims to make shoppers buy Worcester first
By Darlene Darcy
Next meeting will be held June 28
A new effort toward improving the city's economic sustainability is taking shape in Worcester to educate consumers and business owners on the benefits of buying local.
The campaign - dubbed Worcester Local First - aims to change consumer behavior from shopping primarily at nationally and globally owned chain stores to frequenting the community's local shops first. Member businesses will receive marketing materials and educational guides, including local business directories and thank you cards that explain consumers' contributions when they buy local.
BALLE, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, a national collaborative that educates communities on all areas of sustainability, created the Local First campaign in 2001. Since then, BALLE has spawned more than 50 independent community networks across the country, including four in Massachusetts: Cambridge Local First, Roslindale Local First, The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston and The Pioneer Valley Business Alliance for Local Living Economies.
Inspiration
Dante Comparetto and William Densmore, both of Worcester, recently attended a Local First campaign meeting in Cambridge hosted by BALLE. Comparetto said he was inspired by the approach to supporting local commerce and has been working with Densmore to bring the campaign to Worcester.
Comparetto said the next steps in establishing Worcester Local First are to attract member businesses, educate them on what Local First is about and form a steering committee. Area retailers and restaurant owners have already shown some interest in the program, attending a breakfast meeting to learn about the group. Another meeting will be held on June 28, 2007 at the Webster House restaurant in Worcester.
"We need a really good steering committee with not just any business owners, but business owners who really believe in the principles of BALLE," said Comparetto.
A new effort toward improving the city's economic sustainability is taking shape in Worcester to educate consumers and business owners on the benefits of buying local.
The campaign - dubbed Worcester Local First - aims to change consumer behavior from shopping primarily at nationally and globally owned chain stores to frequenting the community's local shops first. Member businesses will receive marketing materials and educational guides, including local business directories and thank you cards that explain consumers' contributions when they buy local.
BALLE, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, a national collaborative that educates communities on all areas of sustainability, created the Local First campaign in 2001. Since then, BALLE has spawned more than 50 independent community networks across the country, including four in Massachusetts: Cambridge Local First, Roslindale Local First, The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston and The Pioneer Valley Business Alliance for Local Living Economies.
Inspiration
Dante Comparetto and William Densmore, both of Worcester, recently attended a Local First campaign meeting in Cambridge hosted by BALLE. Comparetto said he was inspired by the approach to supporting local commerce and has been working with Densmore to bring the campaign to Worcester.
Comparetto said the next steps in establishing Worcester Local First are to attract member businesses, educate them on what Local First is about and form a steering committee. Area retailers and restaurant owners have already shown some interest in the program, attending a breakfast meeting to learn about the group. Another meeting will be held on June 28, 2007 at the Webster House restaurant in Worcester.
"We need a really good steering committee with not just any business owners, but business owners who really believe in the principles of BALLE," said Comparetto.
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