Students get retail start-up experience, Adirondac Daily Enterprise, June 13, 2011

Paul Smiths College Students help out Community Store

A team of Business Management & Entrepreneurial Studies (BMES) seniors from Paul Smith's College partnered with the Saranac Lake Community Store during the Winter 2011 semester as consultants for the store. 

All Baccalaureate students at Paul Smith's are required to do a one-semester capstone project before graduating.

These BMES students decided to put together a product sourcing and marketing plan to aid the Store in moving toward their grand opening sometime during the summer or fall of 2011. The students worked closely with Melinda Little over a four-month period, researched various areas requested by the Board of Directors, and presented their findings to members of the board on April 26, 2011.  The response from the Store was enthusiastic and, frankly, surprised at the depth to which the PSC students tackled this project.  It was a wonderful example of the students and the community working together to make living in the Adirondacks a better experience for us all.

Click image for a larger version.  The students, from left to right are: Sarah Ammack, Jennifer Riley, Nicole Thompson, Alex Garry, Leydi Nunez, Max Krueger, and Catherine Fuller.  Two of them (Jenn and Catherine) are locals who graduated from Saranac Lake High School. Photo courtesy of Nancy Battaglia.

December: the Stock Offering for the Saranac Lake Community Store has been extended to June 22, 2010. Shares can be purchased at any time by contacting Melinda (518-891-0197), Gail (518-891-0182), or Alan (518-891-3464).

Shares can be purchased at any time by contacting Melinda (518-891-0197), Gail (518-891-0182), or Alan (518-891-3464).

Other news: renderings of the interior of the store are in the works. They will be unveiled in August.

Want to learn more? You can sometimes find Melinda and/or Gail at the Saranac Lake Village Farmer's Market - Saturday mornings, Riverside Park.

Shares are sold by prospectus only to residents of New York State, no. 107-1504.

Saranac Lake, April 30th, 2009 – Saranac Lake Community Store invites all to join us for breakfast on Saturday May 9th from 8am to 11am in the ADIRONDACK ARTISTS' GUILD GALLERY, 52 MAIN ST. SARANAC LAKE.

As we are now moving into the final stretch of capital-raising, there is a renewed sense of urgency to complete this phase and move on to the real work of leasing property, hiring key staff and getting this exciting venture off the ground.

We have raised nearly $350,000 toward our goal of $500,000 in initial capital!

Many people, both within the Tri-Lakes and elsewhere, have either invested or lent their support in other ways and we are immensely grateful to them all.

With an average investment of about $750 per subscriber, we just need about 200 more people to come on board or for existing supporters to increase their investment.

Members of the Interim Board will be on hand to answer questions, receive your suggestions and, of course, to sell shares.

Saranac Lake Community Store is a grass-roots, community effort to round out the availability of retail goods in the Tri-Lakes region to meet peoples’ needs and enhance the viability and sustainability of the local community.

Shares are sold by prospectus only to residents of New York State, no. 107-1504.

Contact: Melinda Little    518-891-0197     
Alan Brown    518-891-3464
Gail Brill    518-891-0182

"The organizers are excited to be more than 3/5 of the way towards our goal. We have asked for and been granted one more extension for the Offering and now have until mid-June to raise the balance of the monies needed. 

If you've been meaning to invest, but haven't yet done so, you can simply contact one of the board members listed below or keep your eyes out for the next Open House after the first of the year. With your help, we're looking forward to opening the store in 2009!  Happy New Year to all!

Melinda Little 891-0197 melinda@community-store.org
Gail Brill 891-7230 gail@community-store.org
Alan Brown 891-3464 docsinn01@gmail.com

Community Store helps organize the "Buy Local" campaign. NCPR story

Belts tighten as winter comes early - good time to invest in the Community Store and help make Saranac Lake self-sufficient!

"A Cautionary Tale", Adirondack Daily Enterprise, May 30, 2007

Community Store presentation - 7:30, May 18 at Saranac Village at Will Rogers. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For more information: 891-7230

Community Store board member Gail Brill will be making a presentation about the Saranac Lake Community Store at the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility conference in Burlington, May 16 - 17th. One of the keynote speakers is Sharon Earhart - who spoke in Saranac Lake in 2006 on the Powell, Wyoming Community Store.

April 2007
Actively seeking out a store location.

March 2007

January 2007

A successful public forum was held on January 9 - stay-tuned for more updates as we make progress towards bringing a community owned store to Saranac Lake.

A small fundraising committee has been formed to help raise 'seed money' (or start up money) for this exciting project. $2500 is needed immediately to pay for incorporation filing fees (projected to run us about  $700) and the purchase of a corporate kit, including stock certificates (an estimated $1300 - $1800.)  They have $700 in hand and pledges of another $300.

The business plan for the Community Store project is just days away from being finalized and we are now at a point where we can use your help. First of all, we are forming a fundraising committee to help generate donations to cover the store's initial expenses (ie. printing, early legal fees, etc.)  If you are interested, please email Melinda at: Melinda@community-store.org. The first meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 11th at 7 pm, location TBD.

WANTED: Resumes from people who would be interested in the position of being the "Buyer" for the Community Store. Please send to Community Store Project, PO Box 203, Saranac Lake, NY 12983.

Hear Gail Brill and Melinda Little of the Community Store Project on WNBZ's K&J Show 11/14/06 - CLICK HERE

Progress is being made on the business plan - it is now under review by our advisory board. Information and updates will be posted here as soon as we are ready to make a public announcement.

October 2006