THE CHICAGO MARKET: PARTNERS WITH 3/50 PROJECT TO PROMOTE SMALL BUSINESS

CHICAGO (April 2009) –The Chicago Market: Living and Giving® is proud to support the 3/50 Project, which unites small businesses and consumers with the goal of stabilizing local economies.
 
The 3/50 Project is the brainchild of Cinda Baxter, a widely recognized expert in the gift and stationery industry. Baxter has used her 14 years of experience as an independent stationery store owner to create a program that will spur a positive change and not only help small business owners, but local economies as well. Baxter is also the founder of acclaimed online communities such as, RetailSpeaks (independent gift and stationery retailers) and Brilliant Ink (professional stationers dedicated to original design). She is considered a pioneer of social networking in the retail industry and uses her passion to help community based businesses survive and prosper.
 
The 3/50 Project’s goal is to promote shopping in locally owned businesses, while thanking customers for the positive impact that their decision has had on their local economy. The premise of the project is based on three numbers. Consumers are asked to think about which three stores they would miss if they were to go out of business. This is to remind consumers to return to those favorite stores. The number 50 represents the idea that if even half of the employed population were to spend only $50 per month in locally owned retail stores, those purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. The third number is sixty-eight, which is the dollar amount that remains in a community’s economy for every $100 spent in locally owned stores.
 
“The best part about 3/50 Project is that it’s so down to earth, so straightforward and so accessible,” said Cinda Baxter, founder of 3/50. “This is a labor of love that store owners and customers can share.”
 
“The 3/50 Project is a unique program that has really resonated with retailers and consumers, said Joan Ulrich, senior vice president, MMPI. The Chicago Market is excited to promote the program to its showrooms and retailers.”
 
If you are interested in supporting the cause, please visit http://www.the350project.org to receive a free window cling to put in your store window.
 
For more information please contact Sara Hall at 312.527.6448 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
 
http://www.shopchicagomarket.com
 
The Chicago Market: Living and Giving® are trademarks of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI).

MMPI is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.

MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 West Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington D.C.
 
Vornado Realty Trust, owners of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.