A New Year, a New Beginning

There seems to be some concern about whether or not spending money at Walgreens or Jewel is as beneficial to Blue Island as spending money at the independent stores. Let me answer this question. If you spend $100.00 on groceries at Jewel it provides many benefits to the city. Some of my own neighbors are employed at both Walgreens and Jewel, and so it contributes to overall employment and I’m all for a fully employed city. And, the tax dollars collected are distributed the same no matter where you spend your money as long as you spend it in Blue Island. However, if you feel that you have fulfilled your desire to support the city by spending $100.00 on groceries or prescriptions and stop there it won’t be long before the only businesses in town will be Walgreens and Jewel.
It was back in August that my first letter to the Forum was published. At that time, I urged people to spend $5.00 a day in the uptown area. I asked people to visit stores that they hadn’t been in before. Explore your neighborhood. If you have always bought your groceries at Jewel and always eat breakfast at DeMar’s the money that you spend there helps the city, but not in the way I was describing. I’m asking for an investment of $5.00 a day that you would have ordinarily spent elsewhere. Find a way to buy the other things you need somewhere in Blue Island.
So how did we do in 2007? The results are mixed. Some businesses did very well, and others did not. Our own Christmas sales from Blue Island customers were up a whopping 46.5% over last year. What I say to that is WOW! Followed by thank you, thank you, thank you! That is an incredible increase, and it makes me realize that many of you made a concerted effort to shop Blue Island, and to shop our store. This allowed me to bring in part-time help when I needed it the most. Thank you again to everyone that went out of their way to shop here.
It bothers me that other businesses did not do as well. We all should have experienced similar increases. It may be that because I have been writing, people feel that they know me and feel comfortable coming in, but I can tell you this: Walk into any business on Western and say “I’m here to spend my $5.00!” and you will be greeted with a smile, a handshake, or a hug.
This is the time of year when we all want to stay home and stay warm, and for that exact reason this is the time of year when most businesses are slow. People avoid going out and only do the things that are necessary. This is also when those Christmas bills come in and we are in shock. Nevertheless, I urge you to get out this month. Pick a warmer day and check out the uptown area. If you usually stop in at County Fair for a few of your groceries, try visiting Stefanelli and Sons or El Ranchito. Need a haircut? There are several hairdressers and barbers here, no need to go to BoRics.
We are at the beginning of a brand new year. Let’s make it a good one for ourselves, for the businesses, and for the city. Here is the math for the coming year. Approximately 10,000 adults live here. At $5.00 a day spent by each one, that would be an investment of $50,000.00 a day, $350,000.00 a week, $1,500,000.00 a month, and $18,250,000.00 by the end of this year. That type of investment would be huge. The city would be thriving. Let me ask you this; where do you spend your money?

Look for me on Western, with a fiver in my hand!
Candace Carr
CARR home-garden-holiday

The Season of Giving

Commercials at Christmastime are very troubling. They make us overspend and/or feel inadequate. You haven’t bought your wife that Christmas Lexus? You haven’t picked up that Cadillac your husband’s been eyeing? Only two days left to pick up that monster T.V. or buy your teenagers the cell phone of their dreams!
Worse than these however, are the commercials that make us believe that we are doing something that we are not. You’ve seen the commercial in which people are happily prancing through a door with little 5% bull’s-eyes floating over their heads. It’s a Target commercial, and in it they tell us that 5% of their net profits are given back to the community. It makes you feel good about shopping there. You can think “5% is going back to my community”, as you pay at the check-out. But be warned, net profit is what is left after a company pays out all of its expenses. Not 5% of what you’ve spent, but 5% of the profit that they made from that sale. For my purposes I’m going to call this contributing off the bottom. Giving from what’s left over.
Most of the business owners I know here contribute money off the top. They may or may not decide to contribute to your particular cause, but they don’t go to their accountant to find out what’s left over that they can give. They give without considering the bottom line. I got curious. I e-mailed Target asking how much they have given back to Blue Island. This is the response that I received “I'm sorry for any disappointment, but we don't distribute a list of organizations who receive Target grants.” So I started calling around various organizations in town, trying to find out if any of them had received grants. I did find one. Then, oddly enough, I was at Target the other day, and they have a list of grant recipients posted by the bathrooms. According to that list they have contributed a little over $1000.00 to educational facilities in our city. However, they did not list the one place that I talked to. Giving Target the benefit of the doubt, (they might have contributed to other places they did not list at the store) I’m going to say that they have contributed maybe $3000.00 to Blue Island. I think our business is fairly typical. We have contributed to School Districts 130 and 218, the Fourth of July fireworks, the Blue Island Park District, the Blue Island Library, Blue Cap, the Blue Island Historical Society, Main Street Blue Island, St. Francis Hospital, the Blue Island Chamber of Commerce, and Neighborhood Watch Group #37. The amount donated will be over $1000.00 by the end of the year, one third of what Target may have donated and that does not include the tickets for spaghetti suppers, pancake breakfasts, raffles, Girl Scout cookies, and school fund raisers. What does this mean to you? The percentage of your money that is given back to the community is far greater when you shop your local businesses. So next time you spend $5.00 in a neighborhood store, you can think “I’m contributing to my community” and it will be a lot more than a percentage of somebody’s net profit. On top of that, 1% of your purchase is given back to Blue Island in the form of sales tax. Let me ask you this: Where do you spend your money, and is it truly helping your community? Candace Carr CARR home-garden-holiday
P.S. In 2008, we are allowing our customers to determine where we invest our donations in the community. When you shop with us, please let us know which organization you would like us to support.

Think locally, act locally

I recently ran into a customer at a Blue Island Park District event and she confided that since she started reading my articles, she feels guilty if she spends money outside Blue Island. She has begun to stop and think about whether or not she can find what she needs right here at home. Another person that I explained the spend $5.00 a day in Blue Island theory to remarked that it reminded her of Rudy Giuliani’s speech after 9/11 in which he urged New Yorkers to get out and shop as if nothing had ever happened.
It is not my intention to make people feel guilty. I know that many things are not available here, so if you have to shop elsewhere for what you need, then do it, guilt free. And I certainly don’t advocate shopping just for the sake of shopping. That is irresponsible. What I am trying to say is that like my customer mentioned above, we should think before we shop. Is what we want available here, or might it be if we looked around?
Many people I know, including myself, make trips out to Trader Joe’s in Orland Park because they have very unusual, hard to find, and delicious foods. Not to mention the fabulous two-buck-chuck wine. I’ve been taking a closer look around Blue Island and I think we may have Trader Joe’s beat.
At Stefanelli and Sons, 13012 Western, you can find wonderful homemade pumpkin ravioli in the frozen food section for $4.95.
At Iversen’s Bakery, 12948 Western, try the Chocolate Pecan Delight cake for $5.50.
If you were disappointed in the flavor of your Thanksgiving turkey, try ordering a fresh turkey for Christmas from The Corner Store, 12458 Maple. They get their turkeys from Ho-Ka Farms and they have the flavor you remember from years past. Ho-Ka only sells to independent grocery stores, so you won’t find them just anywhere. As an added bonus, Ho-Ka Farms is right here in Illinois so you are supporting local economy twice!
Dieting? Pick up a can of Dolores brand tuna with vegetables for $1.29 at Joe’s Fruit Market, 12958 Western. It adds just the variety you may be looking for.
All of these places are less than a mile apart, so think of the gas you’re saving. For the average person in Blue Island, Trader Joe’s is about 23 miles round trip. That’s roughly a gallon gas, or about $3.00. Not to mention your time. Might I suggest that you take that $3.00, add it to the $2.99 for a bottle of two-buck-chuck, and buy yourself a nicer bottle of wine from Korbakes Wine & Liquors, 12747 Western, Miska’s Liquor Store, 12435 Western, or Stefanelli and Sons, as mentioned above.
If you’re looking for a quicker and easier way to spend your $5.00 today, stop at one of the following stores and buy a chance on a gift basket. Proceeds benefit the Forum newspaper, which is delivered FREE to every address in Blue Island.
Back in Action Wellness Center – 12757 S Western Avenue
CARR home-garden-holiday – 13114 S Western Avenue
Complete Tranquility Salon & Spa – 2824 W 127th Street
D’Masti Catering Inc. – 11915 S Western Avenue
El Ranchito Produce, Meat & Grocery – 12742 S Western Avenue
Flowers by Cathé – 13022 S Western Avenue
Iversen’s Bakery – 12948 S Western Avenue
Jebens Hardware – 13311 S Olde Western Avenue
Korbakes Wine & Liquors – 12747 S Western Avenue

I’ll see you on Western,
Candace Carr

To the Merchants

Just the other day we visited PetSmart, looking for aquarium gravel. The type we needed was out of stock, although it is not unusual. We asked when they would be getting more and were told “We get deliveries every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.” We returned a week later and found that there was still no gravel. We asked for the manager, who informed us that the gravel was ordered by computer, and she would have to check when it was due. Ten minutes later she returned and told us that it showed on a plan-o-gram for delivery in two weeks, they have little control over their stock.
This got me thinking about big business vs. small business. It seems that big business would have all the advantages; money, corporate support, a team of strategists. Certainly, there must be advantages for us small business owners to take advantage of. I turned this over in mind for awhile and came up with these three advantages we have over big stores.
We have windows.
We know our customers.
We are able to order in small quantities.
We have windows. The big box stores are called that because from the outside they just look like big boxes. No one stops to window shop when they go to Kohl’s or Target or Walmart. Window shopping used to be a national pastime. As merchants, we can help beautify our downtown area, increase foot traffic, and improve our own sales by keeping up our windows.
We know our customers. When was the last time you walked into Menard’s and someone said, “Hi, Bill! How are you? How’s that new car?” Um....maybe never? The big stores don’t know you and couldn’t possibly know everyone that walked through the door. Even my 13 year old granddaughter can see that they aren’t very welcoming, even if they do hand you a shopping cart. No one is fooled when they check the name on your credit card and then say, “Thank you for shopping at our K-Mart, Mrs. Smith.”
We are able to order in small quantities. Back to PetSmart. No doubt they have to wait until the order is large enough to bring in a truckload of aquarium gravel. That’s the only way to keep their prices down. That’s why our prices are a little higher, but our flexibility can’t be beat. If we need an item, we can probably order 6 or 12 or maybe even only one. If Target wants to test market an item they probably have to order at least 1,000 so that they can gauge public interest. We can order a dozen or two and figure out pretty fast if it’s an item that will work for us.
We have a lot of other advantages. We don’t have to wait for an executive decision, or a committee, or the purchasing department. A small business consultant once told me, “Small businesses can turn on a dime. Turning a big business is like trying to turn an ocean liner.”
Let’s use our advantages to better our city, create a welcoming atmosphere, and offer a wider variety of products to our customers.

We the People....

Many people have suggested that somebody start a program based on the $5.00 a day theory. They think that Main Street, or the Chamber of Commerce, or the City of Blue Island should get all the businesses involved. I think that these people are missing the point, which is that the we, the people of Blue Island, are the ones who have to spend their $5.00 a day.

If I may quote from my original letter:

“I have an idea to help revitalize the downtown business district. This idea does not involve any additional meetings, we do not need a committee, and we do not need a fundraiser, a permit, or approval from anyone.

Ask yourself “How much money do I spend each day?” Now ask yourself “How much of that do I spend on Western Avenue?”

I challenge each of us to spend an average of $5.00 a day in the downtown area. Take $5.00 and visit a business that you think has nothing you want. Introduce yourself and buy something you can use; a chocolate bar, a bar of soap, a can of tuna, salt & pepper shakers, a cold beer, a belt, a purse, a tire gauge.”

I know that the Chamber of Commerce is working on a program to involve the citizens and the businesses, and I am grateful that something is being done. My greatest fear is that we, the people of Blue Island, will immediately become complacent, believing that “the Chamber has everything under control”. So let me make this perfectly clear: the Chamber of Commerce, or Main Street, or the City of Blue Island is not going to spend your $5.00 a day. You have to do that yourself.

A woman stopped in and told me that she had read an article which stated that 45% of the money you spend in a town stays in that town. I believe it. I checked to see how the money we take in is spent, and I would say that we are slightly above that percentage. The rest of it is scattered around the country and around the world. If you ever wished you lived in a wealthier neighborhood, all you have to do is spend your money in Blue Island. If you spend $100.00 in Chicago, Alsip, Homewood, or Crestwood you are taking $45.00 directly out of Blue Island and investing that in some other town.

People are coming in from all over; a lady from Wilmington, and another from Palos, and another from Midlothian. A man came from the north side of Chicago, and even a woman from Iowa. They all want to know how the $5.00 a day thing is going. I don’t really know how it’s going, it’s too early to tell, but now I know that people are watching, and I want you, the people of Blue Island to know that people are watching. They say that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but I am hoping that what’s happening in Blue Island the whole world will see, stand up, and applaud. It is up to us, we the people of Blue Island.

When you care enough.....

I felt very guilty. I was sure that someone would recognize me and then the ugly truth would be out. I’ll confess right here and now; I was shopping at Kohl’s. I bought a set of fluffy bath towels, some underwear, and a pair of pajamas. I hate to admit it, but not everything is available in Blue Island. We don’t have a bead shop, a toy store, a bike shop, or a shoe store (other than orthopedic). So if you’re thinking of opening a business here there are lots of opportunities. How about a bath/bed spa store, with thick towels and robes and pajamas that you want to live in? I didn’t think you could buy a Monopoly game nearby, but was surprised when I called Walgreens and was told that yes, they did have them. Things are available in places we don’t think of.
It has happened more than once that a customer will be standing less than 10 feet from our two spinners of greeting cards and lament that there is no place in Blue Island other than Walgreens to buy a card. In these busy lives of ours we sometimes fail to take off the blinders and look around us. So let me help. Many stores in Blue Island carry greeting cards, and this is a great way to spend your $5.00. If you stop in and buy two or three cards you’ve spent your money.**
The following Blue Island stores sell greeting cards
Flowers by Cathe at13022 Western
Flowers by Bartle at 12755 Western
Jewel-Osco at 2320 Burr Oak Ave
Walgreens at 12625 Western
Family Dollar at 3026 Burr Oak Ave
Family Dollar Stores at 2418 Vermont
Dollar Express at 2355 Vermont
Dollar Mania at 12112 Western
Three Sisters Antiques at 13042 Western
Vermont Antiques at 2403 Vermont
Lillian’s Antiques at 13035 Western
Carr home-garden-holiday at 13114 Western
The Corner Store at 12458 Maple
Many of these stores carry cards in English and Spanish, and the antique stores often carry both new and antique cards.
I’m positive that there are others that I haven’t listed. Call me and I’ll list you next time. It seems the city is awash in greeting cards, so think Blue Island first. There is probably a store you could walk to and buy the card you need.
One more thing. The customer in line ahead of me at Kohl’s spent $235.00. As the checker was packing the purchases it occurred to me that the customer probably didn’t need all that stuff. I didn’t need the pajamas either, but I saw them and liked them, and oh....what the heck. Wouldn’t it be great if we could adopt that attitude when shopping in our own community? Why do we tend to be so stingy with our own merchants, and gladly open our wallets for the big box stores? Let me suggest this: Next time you need a greeting card, go to one of the above businesses, and while you’re there think “what the heck” and buy yourself something extra. A couple of flowers, a candy bar, some trinket, that pair of antique earrings, an extra can of hash. Not only does it feel good to treat yourself, it helps our community on many levels.

**Approximately 10,000 adults live here. If each of them spent an average of $5.00 a day in Blue Island in a store that they usually don’t visit, that would be $50,000.00 a day, $350,000.00 a week, $1,500,000.00 a month, and $7,500,000.00 by the end of this year. That type of investment would be huge. The city would be thriving.

Your tax dollars at work.

People continue to stop in and share their shopping adventures. A burly gentleman stopped in just to let me know that he ordered new tires from a local repair shop after reading my article. A very sweet mature woman came in because she realized that it had been awhile since she spent money uptown. Another woman came in to let me know that she spends almost all her money in Blue Island, and outlined for me where she buys her groceries, gets her hair cut, etc. Yes! I love it!
I love this city. Really, I do. I walk to work most days and I see a lot of it on my travels. It’s a wonderful place and the people are friendly. Really. At least to me. The other day while walking home I noticed the street repairs in progress and also, in some areas, the lack thereof. I have walked down quite a few alleys too, and I know that many are in a state of disrepair. My own alley gathers water every time it rains, and becomes nearly impassable by foot, which is important to me because I walk.
Citizens have been complaining a lot lately about the poor condition of our streets. They say that they’ve talked to their alderman and yet nothing gets done. In the August 16th edition of the Chicago Tribune, and in our own Forum, it was reported that two of the bridges in Blue Island have been closed to truck and school bus traffic because they are structurally deficient. It will cost us $2 million to have them repaired. Your alderman does not reach into their pocket and pull out money for street repairs, and I’m not suggesting that they should. Improvements and repairs to our city and its infrastructure depend on tax dollars. Some of that is sales tax dollars. Ruth Sheahan, Director of the Blue Island Chamber of Commerce, recently reported that Blue Island’s annual share of sales tax revenue is roughly $1.6 million. If all of that money were available for street repair it still would not cover the cost of the bridges.
The cost of gas is on everyone’s mind these days. I know people who buy their gas outside our community because it’s a penny cheaper per gallon. In a large vehicle with a 30 gallon gas tank, that represents a savings of 30¢. If that gas is purchased outside Blue Island at the rate of $3.09 a gallon, it represents missed revenue of approximately 90¢ to the city. What does 30¢ mean to the average person? Very little if anything. What does 90¢ per vehicle a week mean to the city? Roughly $468,000 a year. Every time we drive to Crestwood or Alsip or Evergreen Park or Chicago and spend our money there, we are contributing to the repair and improvement of their streets and in doing so we are contributing to the detriment and disrepair of ours. It is our own fault. Be kind to your city; keep your tax dollars at home as much as possible.
The following gas stations are located in Blue Island
Clark at 12932 Ashland
Citgo at 12548 Western
Citgo at 127th and Kedzie
Speedway at 5320 127th Street
Thornton’s at 12052 Western
I took this list out of the phone book, there may be others.
Let me ask you this: Where do spend your tax dollars?