Every year we take liberties with City Weekly’s annual Best of Utah issue and do a recap of some of our favorites that may have been missed. Think of it as like Mystery 3k but podcast and for a magazine. We always end up wondering if people really love La Caille. Does anyone want to pay for us to go so we can make a best determination if it should continue to be voted on? We promise to reenact the scene from Dumb and Dumber.
With many incredible Utah owned businesses, we find ourselves perplexed why the same 3 are appearing every single year in the same categories. Utahn’s, step outside your comfort zone and try something new! A huge thank you to the Saltas family for doing such an incredible job keeping their heads above water during this year. We appreciate you.
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In addition to our Famous Utahn this month, we were joined by Kristen Lavalett of Local First!
The Saturday after Thanksgiving is always Shop Small Saturday. Small Business Saturday was an idea created by the credit card giant American Express on November 27, 2010. The campaign launched in order to help small businesses gain additional exposure and to change the way consumers shop within their own community during the holiday season. It is always the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Now that the history is out of the way, we had Kristen Lavalett the executive director of Utah’s Non-Profit, Local First, joined us to talk about their mission and their newly minted Localist Project. Kristen is also part of the business advisory board for Salt Lake City which includes Urban Food Connections and she is the VP of the Granary District Alliance. From the Salt Lake City government page, “A former journalist, curriculum developer and playwright, Kristen now leads the “buy local” movement in Utah, advocating for independent businesses on state, county, and city levels in both urban and rural communities. Her expertise in branding, campaign coordination, and collaborative enterprises have spurred economic development through place making in her hometown of Salt Lake City, and across the state of Utah.“
One of the important aspects of supporting local is buying into the buy local food movement. A couple of questions to ask when shopping and eating out includes, but not limited to, Where does food come from and am I supporting people I want to. When you analyze food connections and wonder how it gets to your plate you also wonder how other items you use in your daily life come from.
Local First is a unique non-profit with three audiences they are working to connect with. First is public education to help people understand the value of locally owned business. Culture, community, and economy. Creating a shift in community behaviors. Work with the economic development divisions in multiple counties to build relationships with the people that are making the decisions. Business owners they are able to do marketing on behalf and offer training to create local messaging.
The Localist program started fall of 2020 out of an idea that had been rattling around for a while. This was the year that it needed to be launched. It is for non-business owners, “localist”, people that care about the local businesses and supporting them. Like a public radio subscription, contribute a monthly donation starting $10 and provided with a field guide, online magazine, that is a member directory. Once COVID is under control, the idea is to start up tours and more interactions with local businesses.
You may be asking what is a local business. Kristen defined what a “true” local business is in Utah. 51% owned and operated in Utah. No franchises, unfortunately.
This year Local First launched the Shop Small Digital crawl. It was an event that could be done in person or online. 120 businesses signed up. Offering specials, fun products, sugarhouse, 9th and 9th, Murray, Sandy, Ogden, Park City, Cedar City, Moab, Springdale, etc. They put their Shop Small crawl guide on their Instagram @LocalFirst. All businesses had QR code at check out and customers could scan the code and get to entered into a prize drawing. It was a great way, during COVID, to support local businesses.
Some of Kristen’s most patronized businesses in Utah are King’s English, equal to Ken Sanders. She also loves Fisher Beer and Thyme and Place. You can keep up to date with what Local First is doing on Facebook and Instagram. You can visit the website for more information on the Localist subscription.
Kristen’s most unique thing that she has found about Utah is a first for us! She is a little bit of a history buff and she really loves ghost towns! She enjoys finding off the beaten path places. One of the more intriguing places she’s been to is Helper, Utah. The history museum in Helper talks a lot about the mining culture, local strikes, and Mother Jones. Kristen told us that you get stories you don’t hear anywhere else but in those small towns.
We will ALWAYS love your “likes” BUT don’t forget to click that little SHARE button (or retweet) *sharing IS indeed caring* You can find us and subscribe on Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher, or Itunes, IHeartRadio, Google Play, and TuneIN. Leave us a review and Follow us on the Twitter @tnupodcast, Instagram @Tnupodcast, or on Facebook The New Utah Podcast
