Posts by Emily Kanter
Make Your Place - Wherever You Are

This article was originally posted on the Movers & Makers blog in July 2014. Nearly two years in, we're reflecting on the relevance this post still has - as the business community in Boston continues to grow and evolve, and our sense of place and purpose deepens. - Emily Kanter, Co-founder

July 10, 2014

When we first started to talk about our move out east this coming summer, many Portlanders had a similar reaction: a facial expression that could only be described as a cross between utter disbelief and abject horror.  [ERROR: cannot compute] was plastered across their faces.  And I understood.  Portland is a truly special place, and it has become my home, in all of the best ways possible.  Moving here nearly four years ago to start a romantic relationship with unknown prospects, I was just a little bit nervous.  Portland was a tough place to find a job post-economic downturn, and, well, it rained for 9 months of the year.  But I came to deeply love and appreciate this little western outpost for all of its incredible quirks and charms (yes, even the rain), and simultaneously, Portland’s renown skyrocketed and it became the hotbed of culture, food, and creative lifestyle that it was always meant to be.

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Three Businesses We Love

"No business is an island” said John Donne… or something like that. The work we do at Owl Fox & Dean is truly made possible by a variety of local businesses that literally and figuratively fuel our minds, bodies and souls. We thought it was only fitting to share them with you, since they’re just too great to keep to ourselves.

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Cambridge Local First Workshop

Caleb will be in the Boston area in early May to attend the MIT Sustainability Summit and lead a workshop hosted by Cambridge Local First. The workshop, The Practice of Leadership: Essential Tools for Resilient Small Businesses will introduce participants to some of the methods that Caleb uses in helping organizations across a wide range of sectors develop leadership capacity. It will be held on May 6th from 9:00am – 12pm at the CLF Conference Room (99 Bishop Allen Drive, Cambridge Ma 02139).

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The Origin of Species: Three Businesses We Love with Animal Names

We often get questions about the origin of our name; Owl, Fox & Dean is definitely unique. We love being asked, though, it’s a wonderful way to start a conversation.

In the winter of 2013, Caleb Dean took a trip to the Oregon Coast to spend two days alone, brainstorming what could be. He recognized that there is an incredible amount of work to be done in the world and knew that he could not do it alone. In lieu of immediate [human] partners, Caleb crafted a name that spoke to the spirit of his company and the collective he wanted to build. The Owl is wise and the Fox is cunning, and we have grown Owl, Fox & Dean with these elements in mind.

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The Collective Wintery Mix

Greetings from Portland, Oregon, where the sun is shining like its California and the frigid temperatures make us think we're in Boston. The OF&D collective itself is scattered across the country, enjoying winter in various climes. We like to find creative ways of staying connected, including sharing our favorite music tracks.

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How Independent Retailers Can Utilize Their Natural Advantages

Recently, Harvard Business Review published a blog post entitled, Megastores Want to Be Like Mom-and-Pop Shops… Sort Of. The article described how businesses like Whole Foods Market, Starbucks and Lululemon are using the marketing concept of “local” to build appeal within communities seeking authentic, regionally differentiated businesses. These companies are excellent at marketing. Whole Foods has a goal to source 20% of its food locally, but its stores display “local” messaging over a much greater percentage of their square footprint. Lululemon employs a grassroots strategy, hiring popular yoga instructors as brand ambassadors to convey their message to the community.

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