Clyde Moore: Totally Local Tuesday

As I write this column, I’m sitting in a restaurant on Park Avenue. It’s an appropriate setting.

When I wrote my column on Cottrell’s back in May, I took its owner and my neighbor, David Elliott, to lunch on Park Avenue, to visit a few businesses and see an exhibit by the Winter Park Historical Association. One of his remarks that day caught me a bit off guard, as he observed the vibrancy of the street, and the number of people out and about, in the shops and restaurants.

We all run the risk of taking for granted anything we see regularly, and that was a setting, experience I’m now quite used to. Mr. Elliott doesn’t get down to Park Avenue a lot these days so his observation gave me opportunity to see it through his eyes, recognize its truth and appreciate it. We are fortunate in Winter Park for many things, and while I realize it, it’s also nice to get gentle reminders.

That vibrancy and our unique mix of locally owned shops and restaurants has been a big motivator behind my website launch and subsequent efforts. I’m hoping to celebrate our unique environment with truly unique, locally focused efforts, not the canned ideas and clone “deal” sites based in Seattle, Chicago or elsewhere.

Last month I launched a completely grassroots effort dubbed Totally Local Tuesday, or TLT. You may remember last November’s Small Business Saturday from American Express, which followed the now oft heralded “Black Friday.” While one conjures images of people trampling over one another for $9 toasters, the small business effort evokes very different imagery of family-owned shops and restaurants, of Main Streets and Park Avenues, of life within a community. TLT is different than that effort in a few ways: 1) It will occur the second Tuesday of each month. 2) I don’t just ask locals to come out to support local businesses, but ask them to take a pledge in which they promise to stay local all day, if at all possible. What’s local? You can define it a few ways, no doubt, but for the purpose of TLT, I like to say within five miles of your home. (At my house I often invoke TLT rules anytime my partner wants me to drive more than a mile or two! I joke about an invisible fence, a collar which shocks me when I venture too far away from home.)

I provided information on the idea to the Mayor and all City Commissioners. I understand it was mentioned at the last commission meeting, but at the time of writing this have received no other information. I’m hopeful the city may want to get behind it in whatever way may be possible and seem appropriate to them.

I am happy to say that with just one TLT – the second will be Tuesday, July 10 – behind us, it has some pretty enthusiastic local business supporters. “If everyone is on board, then in the future Totally Local Tuesday could be everyday, which would be a great benefit to all of us Local business owners,” says Mary Ann Gil of Blooms of Winter Park, a local family-owned florist. “I myself am going to put up banners and signs advertising TLT and I think others should as well. Can you imagine if all of Winter Park participated? Businesses would prosper – the city would collect more tax dollars! From such a great effort and with increased profits, we can all offer so much more to our customers.”

Lynne Martin, one of the originators of Artistree Gifts in College Park notes, “It's so encouraging to see how many people support this ‘grassroots’ type of movement. Totally Local Tuesday is awesome and brings awareness to how important it is to support local, small business instead of the box stores!”

Again, it is completely and totally grassroots . . . organic and it is unique to us, in our community. I’m happy to say I think this one’s got legs! If you’re a business owner who would like to be a part of TLT on July 10, email me for a sign to add to your window and to be included in my posts, tweets and emails that day.

For my website – which I have some new plans to update – and its local promotions and my efforts via TLT, there is no charge to local business. I like to think I’m doing free so that the small businesses in brick and mortar locations don’t have to. That’s a dangerous path for a retailer, a restaurant or any service provider. Compete entirely on price, and the winner is the first one to the bottom. The losers are the ones left to deal with the price destruction aftermath. Shoot for Apple, I tell small businesses, let the others be Dell. And when you live in an environment like Winter Park, our broader community, I think they’re all Apple, if they will simply see it in themselves.

So, what does the guy who helps you promote your local business for free want as a follow-up? I want to save you money. I’m now also kicking off LUV My Rate as an agent for Nuvo Company, a credit card processing company based on Park Avenue. Local isn’t always the lowest price, though I believe it is almost always your best deal. Well, here it is both. And in my vein of doing something good for the community via all my efforts, 10 percent of everything I make from this endeavor is pledged to Pet Rescue by Judy for their wonderful and amazing work saving animals. You’ll get a great decal to go in your window, noting the good news for local animals and your smart business sense. But this isn’t just an offer of saving you money, as those who sign up will also gain me as their newest marketing employee. I want to help you grow and thrive, and now I have an added incentive to help make that happen. My degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was in Journalism/Advertising and believe me, I like the fun stuff, getting creative to help bring new customers through your doors. I don’t just think outside the box, I can’t recall what the inside looks like.

I’m excited about the progression of things and very much appreciate the wonderful support I’ve received from many in the business community already and from the Winter Park / Maitland Observer leaders and staff, who recognize the importance of and benefits of a truly local focus.

Local is always a good deal, Winter Park. And I think we’re proving it! Thanks!

Local Luv'n Local

We highlight local businesses that are utilizing and selling items made by other locals: Sophisticated Peacock.

Twenty-eight years ago two little boys were in Cub Scouts when their moms met. Over the years and through many moves, they lost contact.

Fast forward to April 2010 when Sindy Levine and Diane Meltz bumped into one another once again while getting manicures.

They planned and met for a 'catch-up' lunch. At lunch Sindy took out her BlackBerry to make note of a book Diane had liked. Having just gotten that very same phone, Diane was interested in how Sindy was using it. She watched closely as an alphabetical list was opened and there it was…right above 'Books' she spotted another of Sindy's notes...'APRONS.'

"Aprons?" Diane asked. "What’s that"? Sindy explained that she had a list of ideas for aprons to make and perhaps sell one day. Diane excitedly told her that just the night before she dreamed that she was making aprons and selling them in Europe!

That's where and when their collaboration began. They don't sell in Europe yet, but they have had much success and are very encouraged.

After one year designing, making and selling the high fashion, reversible aprons, The Apron Cafe has morphed into the Sophisticated Peacock.

The new company is a natural progression into real clothes. Diane and Sindy are very excited to launch it with reversible wrap skirts that go from day to night, from golf to lunch or for just stylishly going shopping.

The Tunic is their brand new baby! Comfy and flattering, it goes over leggings, capris and even bathing suits.

The tunics can be special ordered, or you can find them today at The Blue Door on Park Avenue.

Diane, a former student at FIT (The Fashion Institute of Technology) does most of the buying and designing. Sindy does the sewing. She learned her skill set at a young age from her mom and her grandfather, a European tailor.

Clyde Moore operates local sites ILUVWinterPark.com, ILUVParkAve.com and LUVMyRate.com, and aims to help local businesses promote themselves for free and help save them money, having some fun along the way. Email him at [email protected] or write to ILuv Winter Park on Facebook or Twitter.