business

The City of Denver has recently changed the laws controlling the use of sandwich board signs by businesses. It is now legal for businesses to use sandwich boards, BUT, they must be regulated by permit. This is to ensure that they are put in the right place, don’t create a pedestrian hazard, that inspection and enforcement costs are covered, etc. 

Reserve early and save GREEN! Join us at the Spring Green Festivals in Seattle, Denver and Chicago.

Check out this article in Colorado Biz Magazine about banking strategies for small businesses during the market crisis and credit crunch.

First of all, don't panic. There are options for businesses seeking help and credit during this time, but it is more challenged. I really appreciate the point made by author Jay Davidson, (taken from the article, emphasis added):

Strengthen banking relationships

Small businesses everywhere are beginning to cave under the pressure of increased costs. This article about the 35-year old Wagner's Bakery in Binghamton, NY, is just one of many such stories.

The bakery's owner Lori Wagner says, "They raised the water 40 percent. We use water just to run the steam in our ovens, let alone all the wash we had to do. And the taxes are unbelievable and they're going to go up again." Combined with their competition from national chain stores and the increase in fuel and flour, the bakery was forced to close.

Did you know you can rate local businesses on ColoradoLocalFirst.com? Leaving reviews and recommendations helps other Coloradoans discover local businesses who provide the goods and services we need for our homes and companies.

It's easy to post reviews:

1. Go to www.ColoradoLocalFirst.com and register or login

This article in the London Free Press presents an interesting examination of the closing of 600 Starbucks coffee shops. She comes very close to pinpointing the strength of local biz versus the canned chain experience:

The Eugene, OR area Chamber of Commerce is issuing their fifth annual Emerald Awards to acknowledge the contribution by local businesses to the area's vitality and quality of life.

I know, it's Oregon - but I think we can learn something from how they encourage and honor the work of local businesses to build better communities.

Awards are given in the areas of community caring, environmental values, growth and innovation.  

The article begins with this quote from Henry Ford, "A business that makes nothing but money is a poor kind of business." Nicely said, sir.

So says today's article in The Spectrum, reporting on the Local First campaign in Utah. They briefly make the connection between a strong local economy and sustainability.

This is an important connection. In the growing list of things you can do to live a more sustainable lifestyle, we think supporting local business first is key. When a community can source the food, transportation, energy, housing and other basic needs closer to home, they use less fossil fuels to transport these goods and services as well as growing local employment and tax revenue.

Check out this post by Canadian blogger Dave Pollard about transitioning from the "industrial economy" to what he calls a "natural economy." The natural economy includes enterprise that naturally arises to fulfill the needs of the community. This is related to what I believe is the fundamental purpose of business - to provide the goods and services needed in a community.

Here's a chart comparing the relationships in each: