Card offers Raleigh discounts

Costs $25; independent merchants offer deals on books, wine, appliances, more

Starting Wednesday, area shoppers will have a new way to support Raleigh's independent businesses. For $25, they can purchase a Citizen Unchained card, which is good for a year and gets them discounts at several stores.

The cards come from Raleigh Unchained, a nonprofit organization that's been around for about a year but is now just getting going.

Nancy Olson, owner of Quail Ridge Books & Music, was one of the founding members of Raleigh Unchained and among the first merchants to sign on for the cards.

"People just go to what's in their neighborhood or what's on their way somewhere," she said. "They just don't think that if I stop and spend my money in my community with a local business, it will stay here."

The cards are the first major program for Raleigh Unchained, which so far has about 30 members. The nonprofit charges member businesses $250 annually, as well as a $50 initial fee during the first year. For every new member a business recruits, there is a $25 discount.

"We want to do everything we can to promote local business and encourage people to shop local," said executive director Linda Watson. "A lot of the time it's just that people don't know the local business is there. This will make them aware of local stores."

The number of participating merchants is expected to grow, but so far, the list includes:

* Quail Ridge Books & Music in Ridgewood Shopping Center at 3522 Wade Ave., which will give new members who attend the store's author's event with Charles Fishman at 7 p.m. on Wednesday a 20 percent discount on his book, "The Wal-Mart Effect," and a year's membership in its readers club.

* The Wine Merchant, also in Ridgewood, will give 10 percent off any one bottle of wine.

* Galatea in Cameron Village will give card holders 15 percent off all nonsale items.

* Jeffrey's Appliance Center on Capital Boulevard will give card holders a 10-year major component warranty, valued at $59.95.

* Great Outdoor Provision Co. will give card holders 20 percent off a nonsale item twice a year (excluding boats, fly rods and reels).

Shoppers can buy the card starting on Wednesday at the Quail Ridge event. Starting Thursday, shoppers can buy a card via the Web site, www.raleighunchained.org, or at some of the participating merchants. As more merchants sign on, the Web site will be updated with new offers.