And now for some good news

A new committee in Cranbrook will promote supporting the local retail scene

Retail committee chair Connor Stewart supports the 10 Per Cent Shift, a new spending initiative in Cranbrook. — Dan Williams photo

The Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce has created a retail committee to look into challenges and concerns regarding business in the Kootenays.

The retail committee was struck after a Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce strategy session in January 2011 that was held to better identify real issues and challenges for the retail sector in Cranbrook. After three focus group meetings, a framework was created to discover and foster, with a clear direction, positive change in consumer thinking and behaviour using education and promotions about the local retail landscape.

The core committee is made up of five local business people: Gerry Dreger, chamber director, EKCCU; Martin Torgerson, owner/operator of Home Hardware in Cranbrook; Steve Stockwood, chamber director, Custom Car & Sound; and Karin Penner, chamber manager.

The top issues identified are economic leakage, price of goods, a lack of good trained people and fuel-freight charges.

A model for success

Committee chairperson Connor Stewart believes the committee has found a way to foster positive change in a tried-and-true grassroots example called the 10 Per Cent Shift. This is a simple concept based on the fact that if all of the households in a community were to shift 10 per cent of their existing purchases from non-local businesses to local independents, they would create jobs and new economic activity.

In Howard and Miner County, South Dakota—with a declining population of about 3,000—the 10 Per Cent Shift was born. At Howard High School, the students were presented with the challenge of saving their rural community before it vanished from the economic landscape. After extensive investigation, they found that one of the factors they could control was local spending. Following survey results and a handful of community meetings, they began to achieve a communitywide buy-in. 

With a bit of calculations, they estimated that if all the residents spent just 10 per cent of their disposable income locally, they would boost the economy by $7 million. A year later, with available data, the money spent had increased to $15.6 million. Now they had everyone’s attention—including the government of South Dakota.

A solid start locally

“The 10 Per Cent Shift is a very basic idea," Stewart said. "(You can) still shop out of town by all means, but just consciously think to spend 10 per cent more of your dollar in town as opposed to out (of town).

"The significant impact that we can have over the course of a year if everyone comes on board … the impact it can make is quite phenomenal."

Stewart said he and his committee are very enthusiastic and energized by this simple concept and how it can apply not only to Cranbrook but to all of the communities in the Kootenays as well. Currently, they are preparing plans to communicate this concept to the communities at large and invite feedback directed to the Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce.