Worcester Local First’s Theriault Helps Entrepreneurs Get Started
Friday, May 10, 2013
Theriault studied jewelry design and gemology with a minor in business before embarking upon a career with Birks & Son, one of Canada’s largest jewelry stores. She describes herself as a leader at heart who loves networking with people. This personable spirit enabled her to move quickly into upper management positions at Birks. Theriault, however, soon became disenchanted with life in a large corporation.
Growing up in Quebec, Theriault was imbued with the spirit of supporting locally owned business from a young age. “In Quebec, the city took forever to allow large corporations to open shop,” she said. “Families always tried to buy locally first and often.” Her brother owns a small renewable energy business, and for the past ten years she observed through his experience that “big corporations make it very hard for small business owners to survive.”
Worcester Local First
In 2007, a league of local business owners and entrepreneurs joined forces to establish Worcester Local First (WLF), a non-profit network of local, independent Worcester businesses which is part of a nationally growing grassroots movement of independent business associations. According to Theriault and WLF, chain stores are growing more aggressive throughout central Massachusetts and threatening to change the unique character of Worcester.
Local First’s ultimate goal is to educate and connect local businesses and local consumers to keep hard earned dollars within Worcester’s economy.
“Our mission is to bring consumers and business owners together to grow our local economy,” Theriault said. “We hold networking events and have an online directory which is accessible to anyone who is interested in finding out more about the organization and the businesses that are a part of it.”
Stimulating growth in Worcester’s economy
According to WLF, for every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 stays in the Worcester economy. This ultimately creates jobs and helps to expand the city’s tax base, according to Theriault. In contrast, for every $100 spent at a national chain or franchise store, approximately $14 remains in the community.
Theriault cites studies showing independent businesses, owned by people who live in this community, are committed to investing in Worcester’s future. The studies found that locally owned businesses contribute twice as much of their revenue to charitable causes than corporate chains.
With WLF as a platform, Theriault strives to connect members with each other and provide them with tools and information needed to grow their business. “Our regular networking events foster member to member networking and sharing of ideas, and our interesting guest speakers keep our members informed about what is happening in the city and the local movement,” she said. “WLF also offers a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to network with consumers and other business owners.”
She added that WLF also offers member businesses the opportunity to promote their services via a number of TV, radio, print, and social media outlets at exclusive discounts or for free.
“My personal goal," Theriault said, "is to grow WLF in such way that we become the ‘go to’ organization for local businesses and consumers."
A commitment to community building
Theriault described her first few months on the job as an absolute pleasure. She delights in networking and having an opportunity to bring new people together for a great cause.
In April, Theriault coordinated a ‘Meet the Director’ night, an event she said turned out as a tremendous success. “I worked hard trying to recruit non-members and invite them to our event,” she said. “I think we had a great turnout and I am very happy and proud that my hard work paid off.”
“I have been able to connect with so many great people, and I truly enjoy that,” Theriault said. “I think I have been more visible than anyone in the organization in the last year or so. It is important to be out and about and network because you never know who you will meet!”
Theriault invites readers to join WLF at Viva Bene on Commercial Street, Wednesday, June 5, from 5:30 - 7:30pm. The event will be an opportunity to network and hear guest speakers from the City of Worcester discuss what they are doing to support small business, including grant opportunities. To learn more about Worcester Local First, visit www.WorcesterLocalFirst.org.
George Charles Allen is founder of The Worcester Regional Flight Academy and a board member of Music Worcester.
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