By Jen Weaver-Neist

So, you’re down to the wire with getting your Wordstock booth and/or networking materials in order, but you’ve been so darn busy, right? There’s always something that requires our attention in this business, and many of us are quite familiar with wearing a variety of publishing hats. Yes, I could start my local shopping plug with area chiropractors and massage therapists, who’d make a sweet living on treating us for the pain and strain of these hats on our spines—maybe even as much as costume companies made on Governor Palin costumes this Halloween!

There’s no need to fear or to feel badly, as now is the perfect opportunity for you to branch out into the local neighborhood to tap those friendly resources just down the street. (We’ve talked about the benefits of this before!) With the economy being what it is, and with many of our jobs employing laborers overseas, you can consider this a bailout package that actually supports the local marketplace while spreading the goodwill of days gone by. After all, Portland’s Joe the Printer needs to eat, too!

Just last week, I connected with a digital printing company that is literally 300 steps away from our offices (150 if chased). Precision Digital Printing offers a quick turnaround and a witty staff (just ask for Derek), in addition to affordable, quality printing. You can get 250 (4 over 4) business cards very reasonably priced, and 200 (4 over 1) postcards are just as cost effective (you have to call them directly if you wish to end the suspense with actual prices: 503.542.4433). If you want proofs, it’s a little extra, but that’s not too shabby! Derek just asks that you kindly remember that there are some limitations with digital versus offset. For instance, with the machines being fed single sheets of paper instead of being fed from a roll, there can be some shifting during printing and trimming. Slight shift or not, for a turnaround of 24 to 48 hours on a dime, how can you go wrong?

And here’s another deal we just learned about. Phoenix Media, also in SE Portland, is running a November special that will make your day. For five nonperishable food items (to be donated to Oregon Food Bank), they will print 250 full-color, one-sided business cards FREE! If you can live with one side of info, this is both a winning deal as well as a worthwhile cause.

Banners and foam core signs are two large-scale perks that can draw booth traffic like a new Krispy Kreme location on opening day, and you still have time for getting one of these through local companies like Signs By Tomorrow (yet another neighborhood resource near Ink & Paper Group). Again, the turnaround is 24 to 48 hours, and the price is right (prices vary with size). As long as you allow at least 24 hours for adequate drying, you’re set!

Growing up in a small town, I learned the benefits of local business in comparison to those of chain stores and convenient Internet resources. I’ve also witnessed the loss of local character and the boarding up of downtown stores as residents flocked to the “low, low prices” of the new superstore in what was Joe the Farmer’s cornfield. And while I support a global economy, I still believe in the ripple effect of a strong local economy. (OK. Using that Krispy Kreme reference earlier was hypocritical, and even though I admit to enjoying the southern-born Krispy Kreme doughnut on occasion, I refuse to savor more than 90 percent of it on principle.)

In conclusion, whether it’s Wordstock or any other occasion that requires outside resources, I invite you to first consider the old-fashioned investment of shopping locally. It’s convenient, environmentally friendly, neighborly, and probably more hygienic (results may vary). If nothing else, it’s yet another chance for you to “accidentally” leave one of your books in a public (nonreturnable sales) place, and for that, I’ll head for the reliable shop next door anytime!