Think Local Umpqua

Shift Your Shopping to a Local Independent Business

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:45:00 +0000

This November marks the launch of an unprecedented collaboration among advocates for local independent business by promoting the Shift Your Shopping Campaign. Representing over 38,000 locally owned and independent businesses across the U.S. and Canada, Shift Your Shopping will encourage residents and businesses to make a “Shift” by buying from local independent businesses for the holiday season. Shift Your Shopping offers a simple, powerful way to boost our economy and preserve and create jobs in our local communities.

“We’re encouraging the community to shift purchases of food, gift cards, flowers and other holiday offerings to local businesses that are owned by and employ your family and friends. You may just experience better customer service and a sense of good will by giving a gift to your community,” said Virginia Elandt, Director of Think Local Umpqua.

Americans are about to spend a large portion of their annual shopping budget between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31—the National Retail Federation predicts about $700 per shopper. Numerous studies show that if those dollars are shifted to locally owned, independent businesses, they’ll generate 2-3 times as much economic activity in local communities than if that money had been spent at a national chain. If 10% of Douglas County over the age of 18 spent that money locally, that’s an additional $6 million dollars of local economic impact.

The campaign encourages residents to take job creation and economic concerns into their own hands by exercising their power to strengthen their own local economies. “Our locally-owned businesses are an integral part of our community. They donate their time and talents throughout the year. Let’s support them this holiday season by returning the favor and spending our money where it makes a difference, right here,” said Virginia. Locally owned businesses typically generate up to three times the local economic activity of national chains because independents spend more money in the local area, including using more local goods and services such as banking, printing, advertising, legal services, furnishings and more. Through this “multiplier effect,” the added taxes collected from local expenditures provide support for local schools, parks, law enforcement and more.

Think Local Umpqua, represents over 200 locally owned independent businesses from Douglas County and is taking part of the Shift Your Shopping Campaign here. Shift Your Shopping will run from November 1st through the end of December. A list of national Shift Your Shopping events, participants, and resources is now available at ShiftYourShopping.org. For information on local events and Think Local Umpqua businesses please visit www.thinklocalumpqua.com.

TimAllenEquipment: Tax increase vs. shop locally owned

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:29:00 +0000

TimAllenEquipment: Tax increase vs. shop locally owned: " I hope you find this reading compelling because I need help getting the ..."

The Rural Grocery Crisis | Daily Yonder | Keep It Rural

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:42:00 +0000

Rural groceries are in trouble, pressured by high utility costs, competition from big box chains and customers who drive off to find bargains instead of buying at home.

Seduced by Canning | Daily Yonder | Keep It Rural

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:28:00 +0000

Seduced by Canning | Daily Yonder | Keep It Rural

Monthly Meeting - Get More out of Your Membership!

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 22:11:00 +0000

Join us to hear about ways to make the most of your membership. We've invited local media partners to answer questions about discounted advertising opportunities exclusive to Think Local members.

Interested in becoming a member? Join us to learn more!

Tuesday, October 19th 6pm-8pm at the Umpqua CDC office (605 SE Kane St, Roseburg)

Monthly Meeting and Effective Websites

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:49:00 +0000

Join us for our next TLU meeting on Tuesday, May 18th from 6-8 pm at the Umpqua CDC office (605 SE Kane St, Roseburg).

We'll go over emerging opportunities for the initiative, and enjoy an educational presentation from Sherry Holub of JV Media and Design on the Keys to an Effective Website.

2 week extension for Local Pages

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:55:00 +0000

The deadline for enrollment in the 2010 Local Pages has been extended to April 16th.

There are three ways to enroll in the Local Pages:

Go to http://www.thinklocalumpqua.com/register.php

Scroll down to the heading "Become a member or purchase a basic listing"

In the drop down menu choose either
1) Basic Listing $25

This will get you a basic, 15 word listing in the Local Pages, and free inclusion in the online version of the Local Pages.

2) TLU Membership ($120)

Become a member of Think Local Umpqua, and automatically receive a free, premium listing. Click the Buy Now button and complete the PayPal transaction, you will automatically be re-routed to the enrollment form after payment.

3) If you are unable to pay via credit or debit card, contact Lily Brislen at lrislen@umpquacdc.org to receive a paper form that you can return via mail with full payment for either a basic listing or full membership.

If you have any questions about membership or anything else, feel free to contact Lily at 541-673-4909 or at lbrislen@umpquacdc.org

Lunch and Learn: Understanding Social Media

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:31:00 +0000

Understanding ‘Social Media’: a ‘Lunch & Learn’ with Think Local Umpqua.

Think Local Umpqua, a program of Umpqua CDC, invites all community members interested in gaining a basic understanding of social media and its potential for small business owners to attend a free, ‘Lunch & Learn’ session. The workshop, lead by local web consultant Arthur Lucero, will explain the various social media outlets, their relationship to each other, and provide an introduction to the role social media can play for small business owners looking to promote themselves. The workshop will start promptly at 12:10, and end promptly at 12:50, and will take place in the conference room at Umpqua CDC, located 605 SE Kane St, at the corner of Oak and Kane in downtown Roseburg. Participants are welcome to bring their lunches with them. For more information, contact Lily Brislen at 541-673-4909 or at lbrislen@umpquacdc.org.

Check out our fun 'behind the scenes' photos on facebook!

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:22:00 +0000

If you're not already a 'fan' of Think Local Umpqua, you need to be. Visit our fan page to see fun 'behind the scenes' shots from the filming of our 'Holiday Greeting' now showing on KPIC.

Yes, a Business Plan can help your business

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:18:00 +0000

Check out this video by Eugene based Tim Berry. He highlights two really important points that many small business owners and entrepreneurs often miss.

Taking the message to the table

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:49:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who turned out and made our Food Inc screening such a huge success. Another big thank you goes out to Kathy Panner of Umpqua Valley Lamb and Emerald Hills Beef for her great contribution to our expert panel following the show.

Included here for your information are some tips from Sustainable Table on cooking with grass fed beef.

How to cook grass-fed beef

* Do not overcook
Because grass-fed beef is leaner than grain-fed, it doesn't have a lot of spare fat to keep it moist when cooked too long or at temperatures that are too high. Beef with lots of fat is more forgiving of sloppy cooking, but grass-fed cuts need a little extra attention and care.
So, rule number one: don't overcook. Grass-fed beef needs about 30 percent less cooking time than most common beef and is best if cooked medium-rare to medium, or it will be too tough. Keep an eye on the internal temperature. Just stick a meat thermometer where the steak is thickest. (You can find a thermometer in most kitchen supply stores for a few dollars.) If the thermometer registers around 135°F, it means the meat is still rare. You want a temperature between 145°F and 155°F for medium-rare to medium. Anything above that is too much, and your steak will lose its moisture and tenderness.

* If you don't have a thermometer and don't particularly care about a picture-perfect piece of meat, you can always cut a slit in a bottom corner of your steak and check for doneness.

* And if you just can't bring yourself to eat medium-rare meat and like your steak well-done, when using grass-fed beef you may want to opt for a cooking method that utilizes a lot of moisture to keep the meat tender (see Cooking Methods below).

* Do not microwave
Do not cook when frozen or partially frozen
Thaw the meat in the refrigerator or under cold running water, but don't de-frost it in a microwave oven.

* Let rest after cooking
As a rule, always let any type of meat rest for 8 to 10 minutes after taking it out of the heat. This will help redistribute the juices inside the meat before serving. In particular, when you're planning to serve the meat in pieces, don't cut into it right away because the juices will immediately spill out, resulting in a drier texture. For the same reason, always turn your meat with tongs rather than a fork when cooking it. Deliciously precious juices will be lost if you poke the meat.

The core of what we're talking about

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:59:00 +0000

Watch this amazing video about a soda fanatic

Without local independent retailers, where will these flavor innovators find a market?

Food Inc Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:25:00 +0000

Food Inc Screening, Local Treats, and Discussion

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:19:00 +0000

Click image to see flyer for our special screening of Food Inc on Friday, November 6th

Business Survival Skills

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:16:00 +0000

CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW INFORMATION ON OUR UPCOMING 'BUSINESS SURVIVAL SKILLS' WORKSHOP ON NOVEMBER 9TH

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:31:00 +0000

GUEST COLUMN IN THE NEWS REVIEW:

IT'S TIME TO GIVE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY

"Any agency, institution, or local business can begin the process of “localizing” their economic impact by making point to seek out local, independent businesses for their regular operational needs. In the rush of day to day affairs, it's easy to overlook local, independent businesses, or assume that the “big names” will be the best deal … but that's not necessarily the case. By engaging in a bit of leg work, one can ensure he or she is receiving the best quality for their dollar in goods and services, while also increasing their positive impact on our economy."

READ MORE HERE

Who Gets Your Grocery Dollar?

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:23:00 +0000

FROM THE DAILY YONDER:
Who Gets Your Grocery Dollar? (click to read full article)

"In 1950, farmers (and, in turn, rural communities) took in 41% of each dollar Americans spent on food. By 2006, farmers were down to 19%....In other words, there's little relationship between what you pay for food at the checkout counter and what farmers receive when they sell their product."

SEPTEMBER MEETING: DO MORE WITH NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:06:00 +0000

Next regular meeting:

Tuesday, Sept. 15th
6-8 PM
We'll host a one hour presentation from Stori and Pat at the News Review on how to do more with your print advertising. Then we'll brainstorm ideas on how to integrate the 'Think Local' message into you Holiday marketing plan.

Big Lick Farm Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:56:00 +0000

From SethGodin.com: lessons from small businesses

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:41:00 +0000

Lessons from very tiny businesses

from Seth Godin

1. Go where your customers are.

Jacquelyne runs a tiny juice company called Chakwave. I met her in Los Angeles, standing next to an organic lunch truck. Like the little birds that clean the teeth of the hippo, there's synergy here. The kind of person that visits the truck for lunch is the sort of person that would happily pay for something as wonderfully weird as her juice. And the truck owners benefit from the rolling festival farmer's market feel that comes from having a synergistic partner set up on a bridge table right next door.

2. Be micro-focused and the search engines will find you.

My friend Patti Jo is an extraordinary teacher and tutor. Her new business, The Scarsdale Tutor doesn't need many clients in order to be successful. This permits her to focus obsessively and that gets rewarded with front page results on Google. Not because she's tried to manipulate the seo (she hasn't) but because this is exactly the page you'd hope to find if you typed "scarsdale tutor" into a search engine. Could she do this nationwide? Of course not. But she doesn't want to or need to. Living on the long tail can be profitable.

3. Outlast the competition.

I was amazed at all the empty storefronts I saw in LA on my last visit. On one particular block, three or four of the ten lunch places were shut down. And the others? Doing great. That's because the remaining office workers who used to eat lunch at the shuttered places had to eat somewhere, and so the survivors watched their business grow. A war of attrition is never pretty, but if you're smart about overhead and scale, you'll win it.

4. Leverage.

Rick Toone runs a tiny guitar-making operation. His lack of scale makes it easy for him to share. When others start using his designs, he doesn't suffer (he can't make any more guitars than he already is) he benefits, because as the originator of the design, his originals become more coveted, not less valuable. He leverages his insight and shares it as a free marketing device.

5. Respond.

This is the single biggest advantage you have over the big guys. Not only are you in charge, you also answer the phone and read your email and man the desk and set the prices.

So, don't pretend you have a policy. Just be human.

Final Farm Tour 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:49:00 +0000

Join us for our final fam tour and potluck of the season on Tuesday, August 25th from 6-8 pm at Big Lick Farm located at 12554 Old Hwy 99. Suzie and Asinete will tell us about the rewards and challenges of running a community supported agriculture program, and we'll then enjoy a laid back potluck on the banks of the umpqua.

For more information contact Lily at 541-673-4909

Antitrust Chief Looking at Food Processors and other Rural Issues

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:13:00 +0000

Antitrust Chief Looking at Food Processors | Daily Yonder | Keep It Rural

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School Garden Tour and Potluck

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:56:00 +0000

Join us at the Phoenix School’s new student garden for a tour and potluck. Kayla will host the evening, and tell us the story of how this exciting project came to be. All are welcome, and we encourage you to bring your friends and a dish to pass. PLEASE NOTE: We’re having this meeting one week later than usual.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29TH 6-8 pm
Contact Lily to RSVP
lbrislen (at) umpquacdc (dot) org

Winston Dillard Farmers Market

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:17:00 +0000

CLICK TO ENLARGE

FARM FIELD TRIP AND POTLUCK FOR JUNE MEETING

noreply@blogger.com (Think Local Umpqua) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:23:00 +0000

STERKEN FARM FIELD TRIP AND POTLUCK IN JUNE

Think Local Umpqua hosts a special summertime ‘field trip’ meeting and potluck at Sterken Farms on Tuesday June 16^th from 6 to 8 pm. Join us on a laid back tour as we stroll though 580 fruit trees, 21 raised vegetable beds, 4 acres of field crops, and tour their new certified kitchen facilities where they produce fresh salsas, juices, and more. Afterwards we’ll share a Potluck meal on their deck overlooking the gardens, so we invite you to bring your favorite summer ‘dish to pass’. Those who would like to carpool can meet at the Umpqua CDC offices on the corner of Oak and Cane at 5:45 and we’ll drive over together. Otherwise, join us at the farm located at 342 Lower Garden Valley Road.

PLEASE RSVP TO LILY AT:

lbrislen@thinklocalumpqua.blogspot.com