FDotD
This one is making the rounds, but in case you haven’t yet seen it. It is interesting and thought provoking. Watch the explosive growth of WalMart over the years since inception. I can’t embed the video here, but you can witness the spectacle at the link below. Well worth viewing:
http://projects.flowingdata.com/walmart/
What does it remind you of?
My parents tell me the newly expanded China Mart in Redding on Dana Drive dwarfs their huge Anderson store. I haven’t been in it. But I was looking for a new camera recently. I shopped online, did my research and found one I liked. I wandered into Costco and saw a big stack of the exact model camera I had researched online. It was priced very attractively. I was tempted. But I didn’t buy it. I called Frank at Crown Camera and told him about the deal I’d seen at Costco.
“I hate to do this to you Frank, but money’s tight. Can you match the Costco deal?”
“Yeah we can do that,” said Frank, “plus, we’ll do it better. We’ll throw in a free camera class, and a year of free prints.”
Now that’s a real bargain! Not only is it a great deal for me, but the money I spent stays in my town. If I hadn’t checked, I might have missed it. The camera is awesome. Thanks Frank!
Fellow Chamber of Commerce member Crown Camera is just one store of many I would dearly miss if they were gone. Their business is continually pressured from the big chain stores, and squeezed by economy strangling online sales, but they survive. They do so by giving stellar service. You can’t find that at the alternatives. But it’s important to remember those local merchants who struggle to win your shopping dollars. There is a movement you may have heard about called the 3/50 Project. They say it better than I can. Check it out by clicking on the image below.
Sunday, I ran several photos I took of last Saturday’s benefit fashion show titled “The Collage.” I got some OK shots. But ultimately the most beautiful photo I saw was this, captured by my evening companion, the lovely Karry, using a Nikon S570. This is Kim, of Kimberly Nicole Boutique. The full size shot is really nice, with poetic depth and grace, and a good balanced composition. It’s a shot I wish I could say I took! I hope you enjoy this web version. Our thanks to the model, and again to all the models and show participants.
A familiar looking woman and a couple of kids from her school were seen ringing the bell for the Salvation Army this weekend in front of Raleys Supermarket. It was mighty cold outside, and we need to give a shout-out to the manager of Lake Blvd Raleys for sending out some hot chocolate without even being asked. I’m told it really hit the spot, and made bell ringing much cheerier for everyone. Thanks Raleys! Thanks Ringers!
These 12 intrepid entrepreneurs want you to consider shopping their local establishments. Click on the image below for more.
Shop all 12 to enter their drawing for a Grand Prize. These local shops are your friends and neighbors. They are not the faceless executives at the big box stores that so often characterize our town. When you shop local, you support and enhance your own community. Plus, these are some way cool shops. A couple of our favorites, Kimberly Nicole’s, and Wild Thyme.
