Buzzword: 3/50 Project

What it means. The 3/50 Project is a campaign to support local merchants.
The concept has spread to communities nationwide, and its premise is
simple: First, choose three local independent brick-and-mortar
businesses—clothing shops, food stores and restaurants, and for the
home, independent appliance retailers, hardware stores, and garden
centers—that you find essential and want to keep from going under
during the recession. During tight times like these, independent retailers
suffer since budget-minded consumers are more inclined to shop at
chain stores and big-box behemoths.

Then spend or more among
those places each month. If enough people in a town make the pledge,
the theory goes, the pooled-together funds will prop up mom-and-pop
enterprises and help sustain local business districts.

Why the buzz? What started out as a passing thought by retail consultant and blogger Cinda Baxter late last winter quickly spread throughout the blogosphere and onto Main Street. Buy-local campaigns are now in 100 U.S. communities, according to The Wall Street Journal, and the 3/50 Project Web site says 8,500 businesses are participating in the program.

“Most
consumers don’t realize that so much more revenue stays in the
community when they buy locally,” says Baxter. For every 0 spent at
independents, she says, comes back through taxes, payroll, and
other expenditures. At national chains, the return falls to . Not
that Baxter wishes an end to every Home Depot, Costco, andPetSmart .
“It’s not an all-or-nothing message,” she says, adding that there are
some products that you might only find at chains. “It’s about balance.”

There’s another reason to frequent local retailers: You might
have a better all-around shopping experience. In a recent survey by the
Consumer Reports National Research Center, 25,000 subscribers told
about their latest experience buying appliances. (Read the entire
report to find the best places to buy small and large appliances.)
In terms of overall satisfaction, independents were the highest-rated
retailers of major appliances and second only to Amazon.com for small
appliances. Respondents were especially satisfied with the service,
checkout ease, and staff knowledge of their local retailers.Walmart, by comparison, received some of the lowest marks in these categories.

Prices
do tend to be higher at independent shops, but negotiating a better
deal can be easier at independents, especially if you pay cash, since
these stores will appreciate not having to pay a transaction fee to the
credit-card company.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Before you hit the (local) stores, use our recently updated Kitchen-Planning Guide to find the best appliances and materials.