‘Shop local’ group tries to keep dollars in area
Nadia Wasiullah-Peters didn’t expect the economy to crash shortly after she bought Sprout, a small kids specialty shop in the Third Ward. She’s weathering the downturn with some new ideas: adding a line of maternity clothes, and a Web site that enables her to sell to customers as far away as California.
“We’re definitely big on the ‘shop local’ thing,” said Wasiullah-Peters, even as she fills orders from far-flung customers.
Think of her as the new face of local business, a segment that can be hard to define as the “shop local” trend catches on across the country.
Armed with a study that says spending money with local retailers can help to keep money in a community, businesses are making “local” part of their marketing message.
“I think what they’re doing is good,” said John Melaniphy, a Chicago retail real estate consultant who has worked in the Milwaukee area. “Anything you can do to promote small business is positive.”
The Milwaukee group, called Our Milwaukee, started two years ago with five businesses. The group now has 134 members in the metro area, including Outpost Natural Foods and Laacke & Joys in Milwaukee; Olive Organic, a clothing store in Mequon; and Waukesha Floral & Greenhouse. Our Milwaukee also lists service businesses, media outlets and other types of firms.
“It’s becoming a stronger and stronger organization,” said Nancy Quinn, a former Harry W. Schwartz employee who recently was hired as a part-time employee for Our Milwaukee. The group held a holiday gift fair early this month at Lakefront Brewery that drew hundreds of people.
