Jul 20, 2009

Sayville shops band together to weather recessionBy Keiko MorrisNewsday.com

Angela and Vincent D’Aguanno, owners of Rumpelstiltskin Yarns in Sayville, noticed that some of their customers cut back on knitting classes and saw impulse purchases drop as the recession went into full swing in 2008.

The economic downturn has meant that Barbara Whitbread, proprietor of the Seafarer Gift Shop also in Sayville, staffs her store on her own while also watching her 4-year-old twins.

And Ross Ranaudo, owner of American Pie on Sayville’s Main Street, said he’s seen foot traffic decrease by 50 percent, a result of both bad weather and the economic slowdown.

Yet, all of these retailers are hopeful that the message of a growing, national, grassroots campaign can help ease some of the recession’s pressures.

The 3/50 Project, which appeared in March in a retail consultant’s blog, has since exploded into a multifaceted Web site with a Facebook and Twitter following and most recently has touched down in Sayville.

The idea is this: Consumers select three locally owned independent businesses that would be missed if they closed and spend a total of $50 a month for items at those stores.

“It’s more of a common-sense approach and it’s not overbearing,” said Angela D’Aguanno. She and her husband have been helping to pass the 3/50 message on to other merchants. “It’s not pushing just one store, it’s pushing all of our stores.”

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