By Tricia Walters

As consumers and businesses around the globe embark on an era of thrift, the idea of putting away money may be good for the individual, but the broader economy suffers in the short term. A dollar saved ceases to circulate through the economy and this translates into fewer sales and reduced revenue for struggling businesses.

The same is true when money is spent directly overseas. While Bermuda's consumers might not yet feel the need to tighten their purse strings, businesses on the Island are feeling the pinch as millions of dollars continue to leave the Island on overseas spending.

However, one company is willing to go the extra mile to keep your money spinning through the local economy.

It's no secret that Phoenix Stores Ltd. are doing well as they continue to expand their stores across the Island, reinvent themselves and their product lines and literally change with the times.

Brown & Co. General Manager, Nicole Warren sat down with The Royal Gazette to talk about the concept of "buying local, buying Bermuda" and what her company is doing to ensure shoppers do just that.

"Given the time we're in, it's important to maintain circulation of spending dollars because when people stop spending, the entire economic process collapses. The very survival of the Island's economy depends on this," she explains. "That's why it's important to maintain your local dollars and support your fellow residents and Bermudians."

So to ensure local shoppers continue opening their wallets to local business, Brown & Co. provides an eclectic shopping experience.

This means steering away from mainstream American department stores: "Our store evolves day by day and if something doesn't work, we change it."

This change included the opening of Brown & Co. a few years ago. "It was important to make a separation from our drugstore (Phoenix Pharmacy) because for many years we had Hallmark and Bookmart existing under a pharmacy family. We also decided to rebrand the operation because for visitors and locals alike we wanted to create an experience, especially after the (retail) industry went through an immense transition."

Over the last two years, Brown & Co. has expanded to include home décor, designer fragrances, designer bags and jewellery lines, fashion accessories and designer sunglasses.

"With our home décor, which put us on the map, the offerings are so diverse and exciting. The only complaint, if I can call it a complaint, is that visitors say they only wish they had more time to spend in that department," she says with a chuckle.

Brown & Co. also carries various exclusive ranges in not only perfume, but also jewellery with contemporary designs and gemstones like malachite.

One particular bracelet does more than just give the wearer joy — it actually gives something back to the community. Part-proceeds of the sale of the malachite bracelet, which contains a beautiful uncut diamond, is put back into the African mine owned and worked by ordinary men and women.

However, this concept of giving also extends to ranges of Hallmark cards and gift-wrap. "We have two feet of dedicated space to Project Red of which a certain amount of the proceeds goes toward AIDS research," she explains. "Hallmark saw fit to be part of a worldwide cause and we are happy to be able to bring this line in and help."

An equally worthwhile cause is the environment, and as the need to be Greener extends to businesses and the retail industry, Brown & Co. made the move by introducing a wide range of environmentally friendly products.

"We wanted to be more proactive so we introduced a line of toiletries called Earthworks," Ms Warren explains. "It's 100 percent plant-based and people are looking for that in a single product. It's very big in Los Angeles with the Hollywood stars and celebrities like Oprah using and endorsing it."

Brown & Co. also carries soy-based candles in the Root Candle Line range. These candles burn cleaner, which is good for anyone suffering from allergies, but also for the environment as it uses a cloth wick, as opposed to petroleum-based candles.

Then there is the range of colourful and fun designer handbags made from recycled candy wrappers.

Brown & Co. also stock a range of 100 percent organic cotton T-shirts and Hallmark recently included a Green range of cards: "Most of these cards are made from post-consumer paper. It's the same quality you expect from Hallmark, it's just much better for the environment."

However, the jewel of Brown & Co. has to be Bookmart — Bermuda's own "amazon.com" as Ms Warren refers to it, run by former teacher, Maxine Esdaille.

"She loves creating new ideas with the customer services desk and updates our website regularly, and if you sign up for our newsletter on line you will receive a newsletter letting you know what we're doing and what's going on locally," Ms Warren adds.

While browsing for a book, why not enjoy a cup of coffee in Brown & Co.'s coffee shop, The Birdcage Café .

The coffee shop overlooks Front Street and Hamilton Harbour and Ms Warren says tourists and local alike enjoy nothing more than enjoying the unique atmosphere while sipping a delicious cappuccino.

The idea of buying local extends to the coffee shop too as baked goods are purchased from several local bakeries and bakers.

"It's also about buying local services, not just products," she elaborates. "During the Christmas season we had a local florist come in and use dried flowers from our Home Decor department to create arrangements and pieces for people's home."

"When we can use one another and our skills and experiences, Bermuda will be better for it," she says, adding that Brown & Co. hopes to set the standard and be an example to other businesses.

"Competition is important to what we do," she adds with a smile. "I see other retailers stepping up their game, which is good, because if we were the only ones trying to move Bermuda forward then it wouldn't work. A large part of the tourist industry is also core entertainment, and visitors like to be entertained by shopping. It's not just the women; men and children like to do it. It's an escape for them after they've been to the beach, so we offer them an experience and it's very exciting to see."

As for the future, Ms Warren concludes that Brown & Co. will continue to work on ideas shared with them by clients and customers — ideas, she says, that will continue to encourage Bermudians to "Think local first, Buy Brown & Co., buy Bermuda."