Small businesses bring so much joy and connection to our communities. In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, local stores have a way of adding their own kind of magic to the season. They’re the places you can always count on to find the perfect gift, where personalized customer service is unmatched, and where you know the store owner and they know you. These are just some of the advantages of shopping small. To shine a light on these benefits, the concept of Small Business Saturday was born. As an alternative to Black Friday, Small Business Saturday encourages shoppers to turn to local business for their holiday gifting needs and, in turn, support their communities and local economies.
Compendium has the honor of working with amazing retailers and the hardworking individuals behind them. For Small Business Saturday, we’re thrilled to share some of these retailers with you. Check out our blog every Saturday in November to learn about a new store!
Today’s retailer is the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, located in Mount Vernon, Washington. Since 1973, the Skagit Valley Food Co-op has been creating a unique and memorable grocery shopping experience far beyond what most of us are used to. You’ll find a full-service deli and a whole department of gifts and home goods on the second floor. A primary focus of the co-op is to create a space that is welcoming, inclusive, and affirming to all.
We asked Amy Sible, the mercantile manager at Skagit Valley Food Co-op, to tell us a little more about their fantastic store.
What types of products does your store focus on?
Everything! We are a gift store within a food co-op. Our lower level is a full grocery store, deli, and wellness center. We occupy the second floor and sell everything from books, jewelry, crystals, toys, clothing, kitchenware, baby items, candles, journals, cards, and so much more!
What do you hope people will experience as they browse?
Our customers come to us because they can always find specialty items not found in the big box stores. The convenience of hopping upstairs while you are already grabbing groceries makes us a one-stop shop. Every person who walks upstairs is greeted with a smile and we offer something that you just can’t get online, which is excellent face-to-face customer service!
What makes your store unique? What do you hope to bring to your community through your presence?
We strive to carry products that support values that are important, such as LGBTQ+ owned, women-owned, organic, local, and companies that give back to charities.
Is your store involved with any community organizations or events?
We are an anchor in downtown Mount Vernon and give back to our community in a variety of ways.
4% Friday: On one Friday a month we donate 4% of the co-op’s sales to a local nonprofit organization in the community. These organizations are varied in their mission, focused on everything from youth and the environment to food access and social services. To date, we have raised over $500,000 for local organizations through 4% Friday.
Growing Good Fund: We have donated $200,000 to Viva Farms, a nonprofit organic farm and beginning farm support organization in Skagit Valley. This partnership has helped cement the co-op’s legacy in the community and support the future of farming in the Valley.
Tokens for Tomorrow:
With the Tokens for Tomorrow program, every time a shopper uses a reusable shopping bag, we reward their commitment to reducing waste with a token worth 8¢ that they can give back to a local organization. Last year, our waste-conscious shoppers diverted over 105,000 bags from the landfill, and we donated $8,350 to nonprofit groups throughout Skagit.
Running a business is a significant commitment. What inspires you?
We are inspired by our customers and their appreciation of our space. We have people from all walks of life in our store, and they are each as important as the next. We have businesspeople that come by for their daily sandwich in our deli, farmers that we purchase our produce from, and the families who choose to shop here so they can feed their loved ones the highest quality foods. We get to watch their children grow up and continue to shop at the co-op with families of their own. It’s fun to see customers standing in the aisles chatting as they run into their neighbors and friends.
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To learn more about Skagit Valley Food Co-op, check out their website. If you’re local to the Mount Vernon area, stop in and say hi and explore this inviting store for yourself. The store is located at 202 South First Street, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.
Keep an eye out for more Small Business Saturday features throughout November.
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