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Think Local First Proud sponsor of our 2008 Business Directory
 Click here for our Marketplace section, where both retail and business-to-business consumers can "think local first" by shopping the individualized pages of our 200+ locally owned, independent Business Sponsors and Business Member. You can search by either business name or business category, using the "A-Z" and "0-9" links located at the top of each Marketplace page. You can also use the "Search" button, which will enable you to do either a basic or an extended search.
 Click here to visit a dynamic, zoomable Google Map showing the relative proximity of our 200+ Business Sponsors and Business Members to each other plus contact information for each one.
 Click here for upcoming media coverage regarding Worcester Local First.To arrange an interview, contact Coordinator Steve Jones-D'Agostino at 508-791-0459 or
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Click here for past media coverage & community events regarding Worcester Local First and the sustainability movement.   Photo/Rod Lee, Telegram & Gazette's "Biz Buzz"
Hot off the press: Elizabeth Hughes (second from left) of The Futon Company, Nat Needle and Mihoko Wakabayashi (first and second from right) of Saori Worcester Weaving Gallery & Studio, and Maria Pappas and Liliana Silkman (third and fourth from right) of Unique Boutik, all of whom are founding members of both the Highland Street Business Association and Worcester Local First, and WLF coordinator Steve Jones-D'Agostino (far left) appeared on December 16 in Rod Lee's "Biz Buzz" in the Telegram & Gazette. They talked about "Holiday on Highland" on December 18 from 5-8 p.m., which is being produced by the newly formed Highland Street Business Association and Worcester Local First.  The show is now available in viewable and downloadable MP4 format. To watch, click here.
More about our Marketplace section Each Marketplace page contains the Business Sponsor's or Business Member's location address, phone number, e-mail link (when publicly available), website link, Google Maps link, and information about the business itself. You can also filter our Business Sponsors and Business Members alphabetically by either business name or business category. Visit the store or office locations of our Business Sponsors and Business Members to obtain a complimentary copy of our 2008 Business Directory.
To our Business Sponsors & Business Members All graphic items posted in our Marketplace must be in JPEG format, and all web-address entries must be preceded by the text http:// -- which will not be publicly displayed. - Your Marketplace page is missing, incomplete or incorrect?
- You need help posting text, graphics or links on your Marketplace page?
- You cannot get your business to show under various Marketplace categories?
- You need copies of our 200 Business Directory?
Contact Coordinator Steve Jones-D'Agostino at
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To those of you interested in joining us
Own and operate a retail store? See another owner/operator across the room? He or she runs a hospitality business. Don't think you have much in common? Strike up a conversation and watch how fast the innovative, entrepreneurial and profitable ideas start flowing fast and furious. Struggling to make ends meet? Seek the generous and free advice and support of successful business owners/operators who are more than willing and able to coach and guide you. Watching most if not all of any new profits go up the chimney in ever-rising energy costs? Learn from other owners/operators who have converted to renewable, clean, sustainable and affordable forms of energy and, in many cases, received grants and/or low-cost financing to make the switch. Tired of losing customers or clients to the chains and franchises? Join Worcester Local First and help us encourage retail consumers and businesses to "think local first" when buying goods and services. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $68 stays in the local economy, while only $43 of every $100 spent at a non-locally owned business stays in the local economy. This is according to a 2004 study done for the Andersonville (Michigan) Department Corp. and Andersonville Chamber of Commerce. These figures do not factor in the profits made by locally owned, independent businesses, which also stay in the local economy instead of leaking out through non-locally owned, non-independent businesses. Shopping at locally owned, independent businesses is also more fuel-efficient and less polluting because we tend to drive less. Furthermore, locally owned, independent businesses make more local purchases, thus reducing transportation emissions
See how independent appliance stores rate against chain stores and Amazon.com in terms price and selection, overall store experience and overall support, in the August 2008 issue of Consumer Reports. Click here for the ratings page. |
