Why Shop Local...

Sometimes it seems so easy to drop in at the local "Big-Box"* retailer and pick up whatever you want or need, but do you really think about what you are doing to your local economy? More importantly, do your customers think about what they are doing to their community. (I think most of of ARE thinking about what you are doing locally. I mean, you're here, right?!?)

Here are some things that we need to think about...and more importantly, things we need to get our customers and clients to think about:

•Shopping local affects you more than shopping global. Come on, think about it. Your neighbor owns a small lunch counter, but you drive through the McBurger Palace everyday. Your neighbor can't pay his bills and his yard starts to look shabby because he has had to layoff all of his workers and doesn't have time to take care of his house because he is working all the time. Your property value starts to fall... Then your neighbor's house goes into foreclosure because you are still stuffing your face from McBurger Palace. Now your neighbor's house is sitting empty and a band of gypsies has moved in. Your property value has gone down, again... Now, had you NOT gone to McBurger Palace every day....well, your property value would be just fine.

•Shopping local is more fun. Honestly, do I really need to explain this to anyone? Challenge your customers/clients/guests to spend one week simply shopping local. I can 100% guarantee they will enjoy themselves more. This one is really a no brainer...

•Does it really cost more $ to shop locally? I mean, really? In most cases, you drive further, spend more time, often buy things other than what you need.  Isn't your time worth something? Mine is. 

The next time you are faced with obstacles for shopping local, really think about it and I bet you can come up with a good argument.

Suggestions? 

* no offense to the Big Boxes.