Ten Good Reasons to shop at locally-owned businesses:” (from the SFLOMA)

1. Significantly more money re-circulates in when purchases are made at locally owned, rather than nationally owned, businesses: More money is kept in the community because locally owned businesses purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms.

2. Most new jobs are provided by local businesses: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally.

3. One-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of a town’s distinctive character. The unique character of our town is what brought us here and will keep us here.

4. Local business owners invest in community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.

5. Customer service is better: Local businesses often hire people with more specific product expertise for better customer service.

6. Competition and diversity leads to more choices: A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

7. Reduced environmental impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

8. Public benefits far outweigh public costs: Local businesses in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.

9. Encourages investment in your town: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.

10. Non-profits receive greater support: Non-profit organizations receive an average 350% greater support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses.

11. psst. bonus reason…Locally Handmade goods from locally owned businesses are waaaaay more unique!

By Heather Vandenengel

Western Massachusetts has been a haven for the locally grown food movement for years, but it is now extending its support to local artists.

A group taking advantage of the support is The Artisans of Western Mass, a collective of about 40 members who are encouraging Western Mass shoppers to stay local for their craft needs.

“Our idea was to piggyback on that idea and to educate people in our community that shopping local doesn’t just mean supporting local farmers but also supporting local artists and turning to them for local decor and accessories as well,” said Karen Ducey, a 28-year-old crafter from Shutesbury who helped form the group.

The collaborative, which formed in October of 2009, materialized from the popular craft shop website, Etsy. The website gives members the chance to join “street teams”, based on geographic location or type of craft, Ducey said.

The Western Massachusetts street team had about 100 members online, but when they had monthly meetings, the majority would not show up, she said. However, there was a core group of five people who consistently did and decided to form the Artisans of Western Mass.

“We wanted to create a physical presence in western Mass and not just an internet based one,” said Ducey, who primarily sells cloth wallets, checkbooks and pressed-leaf jewelry.

From there, the group has expanded to 40 artists from Western Massachusetts counties who work together by sharing skills, helping each other find spots on the craft show circuit and supporting new artists.

“By being part of an artisan collective, an artist is not on their own desert island while navigating the show season,” said a founding member Lou Leelyn, in an e-mail.

Leelyn, 33, makes “upcycled” bags and accessories out of un-recyclable plastic wrappers and packaging, like a small pocketbook made from a Sun Chips bag.

The sustainability also comes full circle within the group. “The trash that I make in my studio, I save and give it to Lou,” said Ducey.

Promoting their products and practices as green is an important selling point for their products, they said.

“I boast about everything that I do to make my shop green on Etsy,” Ducey said.

The collective also provide skill-sharing workshops on how to sell your shop as being very environmentally forward thinking as well as how to take better product photography and how to use credit card machines, she said.

Despite getting a later start, Leeyln says that the local crafting movement can be as successful as the locally grown food movement.

“Just as food is a necessity, so is art. There are baby showers, birthdays, holidays, weddings, and other occasions every day that need a little something to be purchased, she said.

“These items are being purchased at larger chain stores, malls, box stores and online from other states when an artist could be living right down the street who can provide a better product with less environmentally harmful materials.”

Artisans of Western Mass is one of several local artist collectives in Massachusetts, said Leelyn.

The group Berkshire Made, whose tagline is “buy locally, buy handmade”, has existed for about a year longer than Aristans of Western Mass, said Ducey. Unlike Artisans of Western Mass, there is closed enrollment and members have to apply and be voted in, said Ducey.

“There are many many other groups promoting the arts in the area but none are like us in the way we are using art to increase local economies through purchasing power,” said Leelyn.

Some members of the Artisans of WMass will be representing at the Old Deerfield Spring Sampler in March. The Old Deerfield Craft Fairs happen multiple times a year, showcasing high quality crafters and artists from the local region and around the country. This year’s Spring Sampler will feature our very own artisans, Lou’s Upcycles, Moon and Sundries, Katie Ray Arts, and Sieber Designs. They will be in booth spaces #147-150. Be sure to pay them a visit!

The event will take place on March 13th and 14th, 2010 at the Eastern States Exposition’s Young Building in West Springfield, MA. The cost of admission is $6 and takes place from 10am to 5pm. For more information visit: www.deerfield-craft.org/

This post is about a fun upcoming class with Katie Richardson of Katy Ray Arts. Live in Western Massachusetts and interested in learning to make glass beads? Take a look to find out more…

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This fun class will introduce students to flameworking by learning to make
stunning glass beads. Basic techniques such as using stringers, cane, dots,
layering, and raking will be covered, and students will leave with a variety
of beautiful handmade beads, maybe even small sculptures.

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Glass Bead Making Workshop
6 wks…..February 23, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Tuesday…..7:00 – 9:00 pm
Instruction, materials & tools: $175.00
Instructor: Katie Richardson

www.MudspunArtsCenter.com for more info or to sign-up.

Katie Richardson of Katie Ray Arts will be teaching a glass class at the end of February. On Katie’s blog she says about the class:

Starting Tuesday, February 23, and continuing for 6 weeks, I’ll be teaching an intro glass class. The class will be an introduction to flameworking using a portable set up that allows us to create stunning beads out of moretti glass. Learn how to melt glass, form beads and decorate with a variety of technique including dots, stringers, raking, plunging and more. Class is 7-9 Tuesday nights at the Mudspun Art Center in Belchertown.
You can find more info at www.mudspunartscenter.com.

Want to learn more about working with glass? Support a local artisan and learn something new with Katie!

One of our wonderful members, Underhill House, has created another fantastic Etsy treasury, featuring Western Mass artists and crafters. Take a look at the Chestnuts Roasting treasury! And while you’re at it, now is a great time to pick up some holiday gifts for your loved ones.

Chestnuts Roasting… More treasures from WMASS.