The 3/50 Project and What you can buy for under $50.

Have you heard about the 3/50 project ? Are you tired of hearing about the recession? I've just learned about the movement from fellow antique dealer/blogger the Curious Sofa. The 3/50 Project was created out of necessity to get the message out that if you want your favorite brick and mortar stores to survive, you must support them!

Here's the plan:
1. Pick 3 independently owned businesses you would miss if they disappeared. Stop in. Say hello. Pick up something that makes you smile. Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.
2. If half of the employed population spent $50 each month in these stores it would create over $42 billion in revenue.
3. For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend this money online, nothing comes home.

Here at Alhambra Antiques, we have seen dramatic drops in in-store browsing and shopping, to the extent that we don't turn on the lights in our showroom anymore unless someone walks in the door. A large portion of our sales now come from our website. Still, most people who do come to our store comment on how much they enjoy the experience, the atmosphere, the conversations. Solution: come pay us a visit! And, at least two other local businesses.

Now, I'm sure some of you are thinking: "what can I possibly purchase at Alhambra Antiques for $50?" Here are some suggestions, I hope you are pleasantly surprised! Stay tuned for the next post with pictures from our buying trip to Paris.

Vintage beer crate $50. Tiny clay flower pots $3. each

6" Moss spheres $25. 6" Ivy Leaf spheres $45.

Lichen spheres $25. Florist's handwoven basket $30.

French antique handblown demijohn $35.

French vintage birdcages $30.

Vintage paperbacks $25. each

Mercury-glass hearts $25. French wooden harvesting basket $40.

Assortment of decorative leatherbound books $25. each