Thrive!

THRIVE is an unconventional documentary that lifts the veil on what's REALLY going on in our world by following the money upstream -- uncovering the global consolidation of power in nearly every aspect of our lives. Weaving together breakthroughs in science, consciousness and activism, THRIVE offers real solutions, empowering us with unprecedented and bold strategies for reclaiming our lives and our future.

Occupy Wall Street by Supporting Independent Merchants in Both your Local and Virtual Communities!

Significantly more money re-circulates in your community when you buy from locally owned, rather than nationally owned, businesses: More money stays in the community because locally owned businesses purchase from other local businesses, service providers, and farms. Purchasing locally helps grow other businesses as well as your community’s revenue base, making upgrades and improvements possible.

Here are ten good reasons to shop at independently owned businesses in your local community:

1. Studies show that for every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 stays in the local economy, creating jobs and expanding the city’s tax base. For every $100 spent at a national chain or franchise store, only $14 remains in the community.

2. Local businesses provide most new jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally, and in most communities provide the most new jobs to residents.

3. One-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of a community’s distinctive character: The unique character of any town or region is what people love about it, and what tourists come to visit. Richard Moe, president of the National Historic Preservation Trust, says, “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.”

4. Local business owners invest in community: People who own local businesses live in the community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.

5. Customer service is better: Local businesses often hire people with more specific product expertise for better customer service.

6. Competition and diversity lead to more choices: A marketplace of many small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

7. Local businesses have less environmental impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases, requiring less transportation, and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss, and pollution.

Now think of the Addoway marketplace, or your facebook friends, or your networked blogs as a village. Where we shop, where we sell, and hang out—all of it makes our virtual village "home." One-of-a-kind, independent businesses are an integral part of what makes YOUR virtual village a great place to be!

More good reasons to shop from independently owned businesses in your virtual community.

1. On Addoway, the independent businesses are owned by people who are part of this community and are committed to investing in its future.

2. Studies have found that independent businesses contribute more than twice as much of their revenue to charitable causes as corporate chains do. And advocates of charitable causes find that independent business owners are generally much more accessible than executives of large corporations.

3. A marketplace of many small businesses helps to ensure more innovation and competition, and lower prices over the long term. Independent businesses, choosing products based on what their loyal customers need and desire, not a national sales plan, guarantees a more diverse range of product and service choices.

4. Independent business owners and employees often possess a level of expertise and a passion for the products they sell that is unmatched by employees and managers of national chains. They also tend to have a greater interest in getting to know their customers. Simply put, local owners and employees take a special pride in their trade.

5. Entrepreneurship fuels America’s economic innovation and prosperity, and serves as a key means for families to move out of low-wage jobs and into the middle class.  The success of independent businesses provides real-life inspiration to our young people, proving that they can prosper on their own terms.

In an increasingly homogenized world, both virtual and local communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character are more likely to attract entrepreneurs and new investment. Addoway merchants place a high value on individuality and consider their homegrown enterprises a source of pride. Buying from locally-owned and operated  and independent online merchants, and not from big box stores, chains, and franchises, keeps more of our money circulating in our  local AND virtual communities.  This holiday season we can either invest in our own community or watch our money leave our community to work elsewhere to enrich others.

BE part of the solution. BE the change you wish to see in the world.

As part of the Alternative Market Movement, our goal at Oshun Spirit Earth Friendly Traders is to encourage individual awareness, and individual action by forming and participating in viable trade networks which provide alternatives from the diseased global economy currently in place... so that we may all share in abundance and prosperity.

Who is this talking dog? It's Cool Dog Duke!

Characterized by "talking dogs" a percentage of all Cool Dog Duke sales support organizations that "give animals a voice." See  more fun videos of the lab gang – Duke, Harley, Skooter – and their little friend Hoover (a talking chipmunk) at www.Cool Dog Duke.com! 

Select Cool Dog Duke fun gear is now available at Oshun Spirit Earth Friendly Traders. Choose hats, t-shirts, totebags, stickers and decor. Wag More Bark Less,  Cat's Don't Know Sit,  Pack Leader and more!

Share the Love!

Who is Cool Dog Duke and what is he doing on Addoway?

Cool Dog Duke is a real Chocolate Lab living an unleashed life on the lake in beautiful Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.

He and his brothers, Harley and Skooter, are well-known characters, often referred to as "The Lab Gang" around our rural town, the oldest summer resort in America. They have been known to steal beach toys, flip flops and sneakers from front porches during the summer months, and fish and mittens from beside the  bobhouses once the lake freezes over... bringing everything home to Mama who then must spend hours trying to return the goods to their rightful owners. 

Duke is the trouble maker, Harley is too laid back to argue, and Skooter – older, wiser and always the voice of reason – begrudgingly follows along and tries to keep them out of really BIG trouble. But yes, they have been escorted home by local law enforcement... more than once.

Lovable scoundrels that they are, the local butcher saves them the best bones, the ladies give them extra cookies at the drive thru, and they always get a shout-out when we drive thru town in our little convertible. Welcome in most of the homes and shops around town, they are a 3-dog band of congeniality and good-will...

...which led to their being invited to do a public service video  (about 3 minutes into the video link) for our local police department on cross-walk etiquette (If dogs can do it you can too!) and land their own TV show which highlights local businesses and attractions here in the Lakes Region. Their job is to create community partnerships and offer up a few laughs, and they do both very well!

You can watch these three fetching Sous Chefs in the kitchen, around the lake, and on the town as they dish about all things Wolfeboro this fall on Sundays With Sue Sous on Wolfeboro Community TV Channel 25. The dogs inspired the  "Got Bones? Wolfeboro NH" T shirt to benefit two of the sous chefs' favorite local non-profits: The Libby Museum of Natural History, and The Lakes Region Humane Society. 

The huge success of the "Got Bones?" design led to more designs to benefit other non-profits and the Cool Dog Duke brand was born, named after our ring-leader Dukey with the hope of redemption for some of his misguided adventures involving ice cream cones and hot dog vendors. 

Characterized by "talking dogs" a percentage of all Cool Dog Duke sales support organizations that "give animals a voice."

Which brings us to addoway. Although there is an extensive catalog of Cool Dog Duke fun gear on the website, selected gear will be available at Oshun Spirit Earth Friendly Traders. As part of the Alternative Market Movement, one of the goals at "Traders" is to form and participate in trade networks which provide alternatives from the diseased global economy and transform the flow of goods and services beyond commerce-as-usual trough barter, so that everyone may participate in abundance.

Each and every month Addoway donates 20% of all Pro Membership revenue to select fundraisers including relief for natural disasters both in Japan and the US, and to raise awareness of Breast Cancer. Addoway is a natural fit with the Cool Dog Duke brand, who's mission is centered in animal rights and well-being.

Our latest creation is the "Beware of the...(something with very big teeth)" sign,  which is being created through local partnerships and whose profits will benefit the local Humane Society.  The plaques are made of upcycled, recycled and reclaimed pine boards, hand cut, hand painted, and distressed to look aged. They measure about 12  x 7.5 inches minus the bite mark. A creative alternative to typical "Beware of Dog" signs, they are fun on a garden path, and equally at home outside your co-worker's cubby! They are made to order. Response to the project has been very positive and we have high hopes for a larger sustainable operation!

So... that's it! Now you know! Cool Dog Duke and Addoway, a great team working hard to BE the change we wish to see in the world. A good vibes dog and a good vibes marketplace, sharin' the love! Be sure to LIKE the Cool Dog Duke facebook fan page to enter monthly drawings and win cool gear.

Peace!