Will Wal-Mart stand up and do right?

If you follow me you know how I feel about buying local. In case you have not noticed I do speak negative about big box stores. I fully understand they are a benefit to a small degree(offering jobs). I myself occasionally shop at these stores for certain items but only because I currently do not have a local independant store around for those items. I believe, as many studies have proven that they actually have brought more problems economically in most small communities. Local communities gave them wide open passages to build in their cities with huge tax incentives etc, and yes some jobs. They succeded eventually in all those communities to bury small independant businesses whom were unable to compete at first.
Finally the national trend of bringing the people in local communities back to small independantly run busineses is on the rise. I could give you a book worth of reasons for that,but today I want you to read this study and see how you feel about it. Will Wal-Mart and others do whats right according to this report?!!!
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Raising the pay of Wal-Mart's U.S. workers to a minimum of $12 an hour would lift many out of poverty, reduce their reliance on public assistance, and cost the average consumer, at most, $12.49 a year.

That's the conclusion of a new study published by the UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education. The study is primarily concerned with the question of how raising Wal-Mart's wages would affect poor families, including both those who work at its stores and those who shop at them. The benefits to poor families, the study concludes, would far exceed the costs.

Currently two-thirds of Wal-Mart workers — or about 900,000 employees — are paid less than $12 an hour. More than one-fifth earn less than $9. Overall, Wal-Mart's hourly workers earn 12.4 percent less than retail workers as a whole.

Bringing these employees up to a minimum of $12 an hour would boost their annual income by $1,670 to $6,500 (depending on whether they are full- or part-time and their current pay rate). That amounts to a 37 percent increase on average for those earning less than $9, and a 14-16 percent increase on average for those making $9-12 an hour.

The study found that 41 percent of this additional income would flow to families at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line.

Setting a $12 minimum wage at Wal-Mart would increase the company's payroll costs by $3.2 billion a year. Some of this would likely be offset by increased labor productivity due to higher morale, lower turnover, and lower absenteeism. The rest could be absorbed through reduced profits. Wal-Mart posted a profit of $16.4 billion in 2010.

If Wal-Mart opted instead to pass the full cost on to consumers, it would need to raise its prices by 1.1 percent. The study found that 28 percent of this price increase would be borne by families at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line, but the cost per family would be modest. The average consumer, who spends $1,187 a year at Wal-Mart, would pay an additional $12.49.

In passing, the study provides some interesting data on where Wal-Mart's sales come from. Although Wal-Mart is commonly thought of as a chain that serves poor and low-income shoppers, 35 percent of its sales come from families earning more than $70,000 a year. Nearly one-fifth of its revenue derives from those with incomes of $100,000 or more.

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Info provided by:
https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/newrulesproject

Do You Support Your Locally Owned Independant Businesses?

I do because I know what an impact it makes on local communities across our great nation. I also do because I'm an Independent Small Business that needs the support of the local community to survive and know others need my support.
But what if you’re not a small local business owner – and what if you aren’t aspiring to be one? Should you be supporting those in your neighborhood? Why? And how?
If every family in the country spent just $10 per month with a locally-owned, independent business instead of a national chain store, over $9.3 billion would be directly returned to local economies. That means better schools, better roads, more support for police, fire and rescue departments and ultimately, stronger local economies.
Studies have shown that retailers in cities with active buy-local initiatives had year-over-year revenue gains that were more than twice those of retailers in cities without such initiatives.
Food for thought: What’s your take? Are local businesses critical to growth in your community? And, is there a local business in your area worth giving a shout out to? Tell your friends and neighbors who they are and why – that’s one thing you can do today.
Here in New Albany we have a non-profit organization now forming called New Albany First and tonight I attended a meeting to meet the startup committee and give financial support to their startup. That was my hard working money going to a cause that is much needed for our community.
I would like to know why more were not in attendance since I hear so many people talk about what New Albany needs to prosper and what I know is a win win opportunity. Talk is cheap, what are you doing or willing to do to change what has always been and what could be a reality?
Also would have been nice for our city representatives to show some public support--maybe they are too busy running for re-election right now. This town needs more than one organization promoting New Albany-we all have an interest in whats best for our community don't we? Just a thought, maybe the flexibility of all these working together when possible could work. Each one is reaching for what is best for New Albany are they not? Besides I was always taught the more ideas and talent behind the ideas the better chance you have at succeeding.
If interested in helping our community in prospering jump on the bandwagon and support New Albany First . Don't sitback and wait to see what happens then decide to join, we need you now for our future.
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR HOUSE IS

Friday April 22nd---Earth Day

Earth Day Celebrations encourage us to go "Green" which is great.

We collectors have been doing that as long as we have collected Antiques and Collectibles. How you say?!! We recycle furniture saving trees and power, and we use old pottery, silver, jewelry, cookie jars, wood doors, clothing,fireplace mantels etc etc etc. We also repurpose some items in a way not intended originally, but what works for us today. Some artists take old and create something wonderful by reusing discarded bits and pieces. We are ahead of the "Green Movement" and deserve to pat each other on the back. Come join us, your welcome, and know if you love collecting it can be a lifetime committment of being "Green".

Not into Antiques and Collectibles?
Well I have a hard time processing that, but there are many areas in all our lives where we could go greener. Just consider where something comes from and what all is involved in its being made and delivered into your hands. What about the packaging alone? Also think about where it goes when you are done and how it effects our enviornment in the long term.

A definate trend in our nation is buying more at Farmers Markets. Local home grown fruits and vegetables,homemade jellies or relishes,handmade art,jewelry,clothing,items from fresh ingredients such as soap or body lotions.

Another Big Box Store RipOff ???????

Know what this is? If you answered "a dingy old tennis racket that you can buy at any yard sale for $2.50" you'd be right. But what a sexy photograph! Who is spending big bucks making used sporting goods look so fantastic?
Pottery Barn....ack!!! Described as bearing "the rare character and timeworn beauty of a vintage piece," you can buy their "PotteryBarn Found Tennis Racket" for the bargain price of $199.

TWO HUNDRED BUCKS??!!!??!! Plus $21 shipping, of course.

The antiques trade needs to find these buyers. Seriously. We could joke about them having more money then sense, but the reality is, anyone who would buy this item from Pottery Barn has a desire for vintage and antique, and they are willing to spend money to satisfy that desire. Their problem is simply that they don't know that we exist ???. We need to seek these folks out and get them to Antique Shops,Malls,Auctions and/or Antique Shows and Flea Markets.
(Yes, by the way, the nifty objects next to the tennis racket are simply old books with their covers torn off and bound with string....nice.)

Big Box Mart---Cartoon

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Easter Spending – Hop to Shop Local

BUY LOCAL or the BUNNY gets it!!
Early estimates indicate the Easter Bunny will spend more than $13.03 billion* filling baskets this year. Independent We Stand is encouraging the Bunny to shop in locally-owned candy shops, bakeries and toy stores this year to have a more profound impact on local communities. Or how about buying vintage Easter Collectibles from your favorite Antique Shop?

If that spending were all directed to independent shops and businesses, it is estimated that nearly $8.86 billion** of those dollars would return right back into local economies, building better schools, infrastructure and community.