yep…i just said it.
small business saturday
small business saturday is this saturday - we’re open and very appreciative - but lets try to do that more than just one day a year.
love and sincerely,
commonwealth press and every small business across the entire country
common wealth press is literally a mom and pop shop. my wife and i started it in the basement of our home…in the middle of our neighborhood, the lively and historic south side of pittsburgh. we own our home and have lived here for over 10 years. it is a mere 167 steps from our store that we rent from our landlord, the building has been in his family for generations. i am raising 2 little girls in this community as well. its a great and amazingly walkable neighborhood. i know my neighbors. i support the other store owners on my street on a daily (hourly) basis. sure it gets crazy on the weekends but i can honestly say that this is the closest feeling of community i have ever had.
annnnd this arrived in the mail a few days ago (above). it calls for a boycott of many of the businesses i support. i guess a good many have been mailed thru the neighborhood. it sucked to see not only my company on there, but also other local independently owned businesses as well. in fact – theres not one chain store on the list. the boycott apparently stems from a majority support of a neighborhood improvement district (nid). the mailing was sent from a realty stats company – dan murrer 1911 east carson street (a few doors down from me). ive gone down a few different times to discuss where he was coming from with this. id like to hear his perspective but no one ever answers the door. ive talked to others on the list. a few aren’t even in favor of a nid but are on the list anyway.
thats the thing – i totally support the right to your own opinion. life would be pretty boring if we all thought exactly the same about everything. however boycotting small and family owned businesses for reasons that haven’t even been researched or thought out isnt only absurd – its dangerous. whats the end result? they all close and make way for some fast food? more bars?
i support the nid but even more i fully support any one that has taken the risk and fear involved with starting their own business. putting forward the effort to cut a foothold on your own and do something for yourself is something to be commended – to be celebrated – certainly not boycotted.
in answer to this boycott - commonwealth press is offering $5 off of any retail purchase in our shop in exchange for this mailer.
if you didn’t get the mailer – we are also offering $5 off any retail purchase in our shop with a sales receipt from any of the businesses on this list.
please support small business. buy local.
sincerely and proudly,
dan rugh
owner of commonwealth press
