For the holidays the past two years, my in-laws have given us the “Entertainment Book,” an enormous collection of coupons for various outlets. Intended to save money, and undoubtedly spur economic activity, most retailers in the book are large, chain restaurants and businesses. Seemingly few of those featured in the book are small, mom and pop style businesses with sustainable practices, the type that my wife and I like to frequent when feasible.
Recently, I came across a version of the Entertainment Book, which I’ve also heard referred to as the Golden C Book, that highlights local, sustainable operators. The Chinook Book is available as a book, but more sustainably (as in cheaper and less printing) as an app on the iPhone and Android operating systems. The book costs $20 at the Whole Foods, while the activation code (also available at Whole Foods) for the app was $14 and came with a gift card sized pamphlet, perfect for gift giving and reduced paper usage.
According to their homepage,
Chinook Book helps you support local sustainable businesses — and save money while you’re at it. Each Chinook Book contains hundreds of coupons from local merchants committed to protecting the environment and giving back to the community. You’ll find offers from great local restaurants, independent coffee shops, natural grocery stores, local bakeries, outdoor and bike stores, garden centers, theatres, yoga and fitness studios — all the places that make your city worth loving.
Chinook Book, which is published by Celilo Group Media, is a certified B Corporation, “a nonprofit that serves a global movement of entrepreneurs using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.”
For the holidays, although several weeks after the calendar dictated the giving season, I purchased the activation code and pamphlet for my wife. She’s used a few thus far and all that’s required is for her to pull up the coupon on the app to redeem it.
The Chinook Book is not available nationwide (or in Canada and Puerto Rico) like the Entertainment Book. It currently can be found in these areas: Denver, Twin Cities, Portland, Seattle & Puget Sound, and San Francisco Bay Area & Santa Cruz.
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