We are thrilled to feature Love Live Local Inc. in our “What Inspires Us” series, as they embody the essence of community and creativity. Located at 539 South Street in Hyannis, MA, this boutique shop serves as a captivating showcase for a diverse collection of local businesses. From talented artisans to beauty care specialists and jewelry designers, Love Live Local Inc. is a hub of vibrant creativity. Their unwavering support for small shops across Cape Cod enhances visibility and fosters a sense of unity. Join us as we explore the stories behind these remarkable enterprises, uncover hidden gems, and celebrate Love Live Local’s profound impact on our community. Get ready to be inspired by the unique treasures and the spirit of collaboration that defines Love Live Local Inc.
If you are interested in learning more about the amazing work of Love Live Local you can visit them online at www.lovelivelocal.com You can also send an email to amanda@lovelivelocal.com or visit them in person at 539 South Street, Hyannis, MA 02601
Interview with Amanda Converse from Love Live Local Inc:
Describe what you do? How long have you been doing this?
Love Live Local is a community advocacy organization that focuses on educating the importance of shopping local and supporting small business. The organization was founded in 2013 (we’re ten this year!) by three Cape Cod based small business owners who had come to learn firsthand the challenges small businesses face, and wanted to share their importance to the local economy and to the fabric of the community.
For businesses: What products or services do you offer? What makes you different from other companies?
Our aim is to not only communicate why it’s important to shop local through our research and advocacy work, but also to show people how to do it through our annual events, the Love Local Fests, annual publications, the Love Local Field Guide and Love Local Gift Guide, retail store where we sell over 75 local makers and brands and digital communications.
What are some things you value?
We like to say that shopping local is about where you invest all of your resources in the community – your money, yes, but also your time, attention and intention. So, in addition to buying things from locally owned shops and dining out at locally owned restaurants, it is important to do things like read local newspapers, attend community events, go to local art openings and listen to local music.
What do you want to hear from clients or the community you serve?
We love when people let us know that they were able to shift their spending habits from an online service or a corporately owned retail store. Because when they do that they return 1.5-4x the amount of money into the local community than when they spend their money with a national corporation.
What’s your personal story? How did you get started? Was there someone that influenced and inspired you? Why are you passionate about your business?
Ten years ago, inspired by a love of the people and the places that make Cape Cod so special, Amanda Converse, Jen Villa, and Kate Sheehan started sending a monthly email to essentially help promote and preserve the sense of place that the three co-founders connected to.
Fueled by that passion and the support of the community, and a dedication to talking about why it is so important to think local first, that monthly email has grown into a movement centered on communicating the importance of Cape Cod’s local businesses to the region’s economic and community vitality.
What’s the biggest factor that has helped you succeed in your field?
What started out as a passion project has turned into a movement, and that is because the community has connected to the mission and supported our growth – without that support, our message wouldn’t have been able to spread.
What is the best advice you can give to others?
We understand that national businesses have a role to play in every economy, but if we want our local economy to thrive, we encourage people to always “think local first”….and then to think local again.
If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?
We became a nonprofit in 2020, which has enabled us to expand our programs, services, and collaborations. In retrospect we probably should have started out as a nonprofit organization, however we run it like a business, which is probably a really good practice!
At the end of the day, what puts a smile on your face?
When a local business lets us know we have made a difference for them in some way. That is what makes us keep moving forward and doing the hard work.
What Inspires Us: Describe a way that you/your business helps your community in a positive way (giving back, bringing joy/happiness, inspiring others, etc.)? Why is this important to you?
We think it is important to share the stories behind the small businesses that make our Main Streets and downtowns so unique. So, we do this through our Shop Local Stories series where we highlight the local businesses that give back to the community in meaningful ways. It’s important to share these stories so people can see that they make up the fabric of Cape Cod.
We need your help to nominate businesses that go above and beyond to support the community and others in need.
Our goal is to showcase these individuals by offering them a collaborative experience by featuring their story in our “What Inspires Us” campaign.
Help us promote inspiring stories for others in our network to see!
