Eleven Clark County business groups have banded together in the hopes of keeping residents spending locally this holiday season.
They’re trying to overcome a major financial burden that sets Clark County apart from the rest of Washington. Because so many people cross the river to avoid paying sales tax, county businesses lose nearly $1 billion in sales, and state and local tax rolls are about $75 million short of what they would be if everyone shopped locally, according to data from the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce.
o What: Clark County shop-local campaign.
o Business group supporters: Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce, East Vancouver Business Association, Fourth Plain Business Coalition, Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, Hazel Dell/Salmon Creek Business Association, La Center North Clark Chamber of Commerce, Ridgefield Business Association, Woodland Chamber of Commerce, Uptown Village Association, Vancouver’s Downtown Association, Woodland Chamber of Commerce.
Moreover, the money that would have been spent in the area’s retail shops could generate an estimated 5,583 jobs, according to the chamber.
o What: Clark County shop-local campaign.
o Business group supporters: Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce, East Vancouver Business Association, Fourth Plain Business Coalition, Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, Hazel Dell/Salmon Creek Business Association, La Center North Clark Chamber of Commerce, Ridgefield Business Association, Woodland Chamber of Commerce, Uptown Village Association, Vancouver's Downtown Association, Woodland Chamber of Commerce.
That’s why — with Clark County’s 13 percent unemployment rate (the state’s highest) — the Do We Get It? shop-local campaign asks merchants and residents alike the same question, said Kim Capeloto, an executive vice president at Riverview Bank in Vancouver.
“We decided to make this a personal campaign that makes people think of their out-of-work neighbors and how they relate to the way we spend money,” said Capeloto, former executive director of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce.
Capeloto and leaders of 10 other business groups — from the east side’s Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce to the north end of the county in Battle Ground, Salmon Creek and Woodland — dreamed up the ambitious buy-local campaign.
The effort is unfunded so far, but the groups hope to raise $2,500 in donations to jump start the endeavor, said Kelly Parker, who was named executive director of Vancouver’s chamber last month and inherited the shop-local promotion.
Contributions would be used to print and distribute posters, and launch an informational website.
“We would love to do billboards and television ads. For now, this is a grass-roots effort,” Parker said.
Grateful merchant
At least one local merchant said he is grateful for any kind of support being offered.
Dollars spent locally can have a multiplying effect, said Wade Leckie, co-owner of Bad Monkey Bikes Board & Skate shop in downtown Vancouver.
“Customers spend money here and I buy a cup of coffee down the street. There’s a swirling of money that keeps the base of the community running,” said Leckie, 36, who opened the bicycle shop in June 2008, months before the nation’s economy plunged into financial crisis.
Since then, Bad Monkey’s sales have been lower than originally expected, but steadily improving, Leckie said. The store employs four people selling and repairing bikes, skateboards and snowboards.
To compete with sales-tax-free Oregon, Bad Monkey offers a complimentary tune-up with each sale, on bikes that range in price from $250 to $4,000 for high-end commuter units.
“We struggle to sell the expensive bikes because of the sales tax thing,” Leckie said.
Raising awareness
Buy-local campaigners also hope the Do We Get It? tag line helps replenish tapped out state and local government budgets.
“The concept is to raise awareness among local consumers and remind them the sales tax we pay goes into fire, police and public services,” Parker said.
An 8.2 percent sales tax is charged in Clark County. The state receives about 6.5 percent of the sales tax collected in the county, with the rest shared among local jurisdictions.
