When Patricia Lecy-Davis opened her salon six years ago, she had plenty of experience as a hairdresser, but she had no idea how to run a business.

She realized very quickly that help from the community, was imperative to running a successful small business.

“I found that small businesses run on a vacuum,” Lecy-Davis the owner of Embellish Multipurpose Salon in Tacoma.  “Most independent business owners don’t have a lot of outside help.  They are so tied to the business that they don’t have a lot of time to spend learning how to run the business.”

As a result of her findings, Lecy-Davis, along with Chuck Hellar, owner of Chuckals Office Supply, Sherry Hopson, co-owner of Headliners Salon, Deborah Pittman, owner of A Fine Design, Marty Campbell, owner of Buzzard Cds Stadium Video, and Bill Evans, the owner of Pacific NW Shops, started a program called Go Local.

Started in 2008, the initiative is a membership program that offers independent business owners a surplus of resources.   To join, small business owners and entrepreneurs pay an annual $100 fee.  If they belong to the Chamber of Commerce, or another business organization the annual fee is $65.

When a business joins Go Local, they are put into a database, according to the type of business, she said.  They receive a welcome packet that includes information on purchasing a three minute spot from cable television, and opportunities to advertise in the Volcano, and the Fort Lewis Ranger, at a low cost.  The members become instantly connected to resources at a national, state, and local level, including access to forms, templates, and legal question and answers, she said.

The program deals with three levels of assistance — advocacy, community, and economics.

First, the 12 person volunteer board of directors serves as advocates for member businesses.  They provide a voice to promote change, Lecy-Davis said.

“There is a lot of government stuff that creates barriers, that are very tough for small businesses to overcome,” said Lecy-Davis, who serves as the Go Local president.  “An example is the City of Tacoma recently purchased a fleet of vehicles from Iowa because the vehicles were $5 cheaper there.  Why should we give Iowa money for a fleet of vehicles for our city?”

Secondly, the program serves as a hub and catalyst to connect small businesses and to help bring in customers, she said.

“I trade services with dentists, florists, and chiropractors,” she said. “Our members get access to a network of information that allows them to do the same kind of thing.”
Sherry Hopson became a founding member because she was interested in giving small independent business owners a network so that their businesses can thrive, she said.
“Small businesses are so important,” Hopson said. “They make our town unique.  When I take a trip I always look for the small shops, because that’s where you get the true flavor of an area.  You find little treasures in these shops.”

Also Hopson wanted to serve as a mentor for other independent owners, she said.
“I have always had a philosophy that if you hang around with successful people, it rubs off,” she said. “When you have a mentor, it really helps.”

Third, the program acts as a marketing brand and umbrella to help small businesses reach the public in an affordable manner, Lecy-Davis said.

“My marketing budget is almost non-existent,” she said.  “Most small businesses don’t have a lot of money for advertising.  So we have created partnerships with cable television and several publications so that independent owners can advertise.”
The Go local mindset is to develop an awareness to show people how much buying local can impact their community by buying local, she said.

Marie Barth, the owner of Designated Escrow, a 23-year-old independently owned Lakewood business, joined the program because she believed in the mission, she said. 
“It’s an awesome concept,” Barth said. “I have always been a staunch believer in buying local, and keeping the money in our community.  Sixty-eight cents of every dollar stays in your community if you buy locally. I really believe in what they are doing.  If they get the word out successfully, their mission will grow.”

To achieve their goal, and spread the word on the importance of buying local, Go Local officials want to increase membership from 50 members to 250 members, she said.  Also they want to create an educational and networking forum for members, she said.

“We want to connect businesses so the owners can discuss their experiences, strengths and hope,” she said.

Also they want to raise awareness of the importance of small businesses in any community, she said.

“For people who aren’t from this area, small businesses provide a path to all the favorite things that people miss about their hometown,” Lecy-Davis said. “It might be a shopping place, or a corner store where they ate or had a cup of coffee.”

Finally, the program is designed to get people thinking locally again, she said.

“It’s important to get back to the connectivity of our businesses,” Lecy-Davis said. “People are more loyal to a business they know and understand.”

To find local businesses or to become a member, visit www.golocaltacoma.com. And, see their video here.