Think outside the Gift Box! Celebrate the Sustainable Way
by Jacqui Bauer, Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Bloomington
The holidays don’t have to be a celebration of overconsumption! Below are a few no- or low-material gift ideas that will make anyone’s Christmas a happy one—and support the economy at the same time.
1) The personalized song. For $5, you assemble a silly or romantic song for a friend, spouse or relative. www.instasong.com
2) Recycled stuff. From local art (like www.moesache.com and www.twistedlimbpaper.com) to snazzy home décor (www.globalgiftsindy.com), there are all sorts of ideas for people who like the idea of closing the loop.
3) Fix something loved that’s broken. www.fixitclub.com/
4) Buy them a home energy audit (http://www.gnnbloomington.com/?page_id=677), or a simple weatherization kit (weatherstripping, foam draft-stoppers for switchplates and outlets, etc.), and start them on the path to perpetual savings on their utility bills.
5) Sponsor a membership in a non-profit organization, especially one like www.catalogchoice.org, which will remove your loved one’s name from junk mail lists as a membership perk.
6) Plant a tree in their honor. Try the Bloomington Tree Fund. http://bloomington.in.gov/street-trees-and-landscaping
7) Regift. Everybody’s doing it. There is no shame in finding loving homes for underappreciated gifts.
8) Tickets to something. A play, a movie or a performance at one of our lovely local venues. Make it a package with a gift certificate for dinner.
9) Sponsor or subsidize their membership in a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program (www.localgrowers.org/CSA.html), and provide support for local farms at the same time.
10) A gift certificate for a massage, a dance lesson or a pottery class. Try Downtown Bloomington gift certificates, good at dozens of participating downtown merchants. www.downtownbloomington.com/giftcertificates.html
Your challenge? Think outside the gift box—you can both support the local economy and minimize holiday consumption. What better way to celebrate the season of peace and giving?
Hopeful News in Online Fairness in Indiana!
By Una Winterman, Director, Local First Indiana
Simon Property Group, the nation’s largest mall operator, is suing the Indiana Department of Revenue to try and force it to collect taxes from Amazon.com Inc. for all sales made in the state. Simon Property Group is not seeking monetary damages, but rather is suing on behalf of itself and all other brick and mortar businesses in Indiana who are competing for customers with Amazon.
Undoubtedly, Indiana legislators thought that they were creating a business friendly atmosphere when they offered Amazon a tax break for moving here, but this unfair advantage is not working out for any other businesses in Indiana who sell the same items as Amazon. Apparently, legislators are coming to their senses, as they have been studying this issue in the Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy, and though they have yet to make a formal recommendation, are expected to release a proposal to require sales tax collection during the 2012 session. No doubt that Simon Property Group will help them to remember the 547,000 retail jobs across the state that are in jeapordy, awaiting their final determination.
The Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship–A Resource for Local Businesses and Entrepreneurs
The Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship at Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington is a relatively new program in our
community. We recently launched a new set of courses for those wanting to start a small business. One of the essential elements of our program is bringing in some local businessmen and women to talk about particular subjects that marry with our curriculum. These include topics including franchising, buying a small existing business, starting an on-line business, customer service and sales strategies as well as many others. We felt it was important to bring in local businesspeople because it provides a local connection, something that our students can relate to in our community, and allows us to teach fundamental concepts that are relevant and understandable.
There are hundreds of businesses in the Bloomington area and it is our pleasure to show off local talent in our classrooms as we suspect our students will become the next customer, employee or even just a promoter of a locally-owned business. With the holidays fast approaching, think of what you can do to learn about locally-based businesses. Ask yourself some simple questions. What do they sell? Who owns and operates the company? Do they partner with local vendors or growers? Do they invest in and give back to the community? I think you will be surprised to find some wonderfully unique businesses that have lots to offer and improve our quality of life, all the while providing you with the goods and services you desire.
Steven E. Bryant
Executive Director Gayle and Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington