“Going local does not mean walling off the outside world. It means nurturing locally owned businesses, which use local resources sustainably, employ local workers at decent wages and serve primarily local consumers. It means becoming more self-sufficient and less dependent on imports. Control moves from the boardrooms of distant corporations and back into the community where it belongs.”
- Michael H. Shuman, author of the book Going Local.
It may not look much like Christmas just yet, but Dec. 25 is fast approaching.
We at The Express love to promote everything good in our community, including our local merchants. We invite you to visit them this holiday season while buying gifts for all the special people on your list this Christmas.
Shopping locally has become a growing issue in so many communities in this region, and for good many good reasons. In fact, here are five:
1. Local economic stimulus
When you purchase at locally owned businesses rather than nationally owned, more money is kept in the community because locally owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms. Purchasing local helps grow other businesses as well as the local tax base.
2. Non-profits receive greater support
Local business owners donate more to local charities than non-local owners.
3. Unique businesses create character and prosperity
The unique character of your local community is defined in large part by the business that reside there, and that plays a big factor in your overall satisfaction with where you live and the value of you home and property.
4. Environmental impact is reduced
Small local business usually set up shop in the town/village center, providing a centralized variety that is much friendlier to a community’s walk score than out-of-town shopping malls. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.
5. Most new jobs are provided by local businesses
Small local businesses are the largest employers nationally. Plus, the more jobs you have in your local community the less people are going to have to commute, which means more time and less traffic and pollution.
With that in mind, we encourage everyone to take a good look at what’s in their own backyard before venturing to the city for their holiday shopping this year.
Our local merchants are right here, ready and waiting to offer their customers selection, specials and personal customer service right here at home.
But, some may protest, shoppers say they can’t find what they need here. They claim they may find better deals in the city’s big box stores. Or they’ve always traveled out of town, purely out of habit.
It’s time to change our way of thinking. We’ll never know of everything our community has to offer unless we look. If an item can’t be found, chances are good our local merchants would be happy to order it in.
The big city box store deals may not seems as good when one factors in traveling time and money spent on gas. In addition, they may not offer the unique items offered here, but instead cookie-cutter gift ideas, which are the same as every other large retailer in the country. If it’s a yearly habit to make a shopping trip to the city, stop here first. Local consumers are sure to be pleased with all they can purchase before they even leave the area.
If we want others to invest in this community, we must first invest in it ourselves.
- S.B.