I honestly shop local as much as I can

I have wanted to talk about local shopping opportunities for awhile and it occurred to me this weekend (as I was shopping) that maybe the best way for me to do that is to talk about where I shop locally and what I buy there.

I will preface this by saying that I don't shop a lot. Not only is retail therapy not in my budget most weeks, but it isn't something I enjoy that much. I am sort of a "get in, get what you need, get out" kind of person. However, this weekend I had to pick up prescriptions. I get our's filled at our local, independent, downtown pharmacy. Grattan's Pharmacy and Gifts in downtown Philipsburg. I got groceries at Weis this weekend too. Now, I am aware Weis is not locally owned, but it IS in our Main Street District and the store employs a lot of local folks. Friday I ate lunch at The Gaslight Cafe. I also stopped in and got a few things at the Dollar General. Again, I know this is not a local company, but our Dollar General is downtown and generates (by our counts) about 35 people an hour. They too employ locals and if they are that much of a destination all of our businesses benefit. Better than visiting the Family Dollar in the plaza, in my mind at least. Last, but not least, I visited our locally owned distributor for a case of my favorite brew.

So, you can see that I didn't shop a ton, but I put money in the registers of businesses that are going to turn around and pay wages with my money this week or spend that money at other locally owned businesses. Next time you get in your car to go out of town to do these things, challenge yourself to find it locally. It matters!

High Cost of Low Prices

So I watched the video today, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices. The video is from 2006 but is in the news again because Wal-Mart is trying to build inner city stores in New York City. As usual, Wal-Mart is saying they will create 1200 new jobs and generate $10 million in tax revenue. These are true but they are misleading. What they don't tell you is, for every job they create 1 1/2-2 jobs will be lost in the community because other businesses will close. They also omit the fact that these tax revenues aren't new, they are just being shifted from other businesses. Not to mention, real estate values will plummet causing a decrease in property tax revenue.

As Al Norman (founder of Sprawl-Busters) says in the film "They (Wal-Mart) don't get it. When we start talking about quality of life, they start talking about cheap underwear. I keep saying, you can't buy small town quality of life at a Wal-Mart. They don't sell it. But, once they steal it from you, you can't get it back at any price."

Need a local example of this? Clearfield, PA. Clearfield "welcomed" their Wal-Mart Supercenter over a decade ago.Today, there is no place to buy groceries except Wal-Mart and their downtown and other locally owned businesses are struggling. Because everything in Clearfield has closed, and Wal-Mart has no competition, their prices are really high! People think they are getting choice when Wal-Mart comes to town. People think they are getting a "great deal" on stuff. Trust me, once the competition is gone, we all pay more!

I would encourage anyone to watch the documentary, you can find it here: http://thefightback.org/2011/02/yes-says-no-to-walmart/

As a Main Street manager I hear all the time that there is "no where to shop" in town. 9 times out of 10, I can point out at least three places that that person has never heard of or stepped inside of before. It isn't that the places aren't here, it is that people don't seek them out. Thanks to the proliferation of the automobile, our society is used to jumping in the car driving to a mall or shopping center, parking, and walking from store to store. We don't seem care that it is a generic experience, basically the exact experience we can get at any mall or shopping center. We are willing to spend our valuable time and gas money driving there for this generic experience too. Boggles my mind. Some people cite cost, getting the "best deal". Yeah, it makes sense to drive over an hour round trip and spent $3.15 per gallon on fuel to save $3.00 sure... (READ- sarcasm). But until people's mind set changes this will continue. I wish there was an easy way to demonstrate to people how important their spending decisions are...

I swear I am not an extremist just passionate

First of all, let me explain where I am coming from on this. As I see it, thanks to stores like Wal-Mart we, as Americans, have become brainwashed about what we NEED. There is a huge difference between what we NEED versus what we WANT. And, frankly, places like Wal-Mart have made all of us feel like we need so much more than we do. It is no wonder we are in a mess with foreclosures and people in over there heads in credit card debt. Americans believe we NEED to have things that we don't really NEED, we merely WANT them. I can get everything I NEED within a 3 miles radius of my home. That includes schooling and doctors. Even without a vehicle or public transportation, I can get all of my (and my family's) NEEDS met. I realize that everyone is going to buy those WANTS too. My boys collect Star Wars Galactic Heroes and believe me you cannot find those anywhere within a 20 miles radius. Obviously, sometimes you have to shop somewhere else, but this is about being conscious about where you spend your money.  And about trying to spend it in locally owned, independent businesses when you can because it has an impact on your community. But, do people really understand the impact they have when they shop? I would say most don't so let me provide a few facts that demonstrate this impact. 

Let's aim to improve the economic health of our neighborhoods, our localities and our shopping corridors.

1. Shopping local creates jobs. Shops in your town create local employment and self-employment. These people in turn spend in the local economy.
2. Local independent shops invest more in your communities. Local businesses are proportionally more generous in their support of local charities, schools, and community events. So supporting local shops means a financial contribution to your community.
3. Local shops sell great products at affordable prices. Some people get out of the habit of shopping locally and are then surprised by the range of products available.
4. Shopping locally saves you time and money. You travel less, saving on time and fuel.
5. Shopping locally retains your communities. People don’t like losing shops and services in small towns but don’t equate this with how they spend their money.
6. Shopping locally retains your distinctiveness. Independent shops create distinctive shopping experiences and stock different products. Local businesses respond more quickly to the needs of local customers, stocking products to meet changing population needs.
7. Shopping locally saves the environment. Local shops often stock a high percentage of locally sourced goods that do not require long-distance transportation, helping to reduce our global footprint.
8. Local shops are for everyone. Most people can get to their local shops easily. This is especially important for the elderly, young people and others who rely on public transportation.
9. Local shops value you more. Evidence from numerous surveys show people receive better customer care and service locally. These businesses survive by their reputation and repeat business, which means you get a higher standard of service.
10. Shopping local saves services. Private and public sector services cluster around shops. As shops disappear so do hairdressers, banks, restaurants and other businesses.

Consumers can pledge to Think, Shop, Buy, Local and commit to patronizing businesses near where they live and work. Local stores employ your neighbors, pay taxes that support your schools and improve your roads, and contribute to local non-profit groups.

Together we can strengthen relationships that improve our quality of life. So next time before you make a purchase, Think, Shop, Buy, Local.

Credit: Barbara Wold
Barbara Wold is an internationally known speaker and authority to the retail and consumer industries.  More than 40 years of firsthand retail experience in executive and sales management,marketing and repositioning have made Ms Wold as one of retail's most sought after speakers and consultants.  Ms Wold is an authority on building business through customer driven strategy and maximizing human assets.

I am a Downtown Dork and I am proud of it!

My name is Emily and I love downtowns! I love locally owned, independent businesses. I literally get sick in the stomach when someone tells me they are headed to Sam's Club. And I get very offended when people say there is no where to shop in our small town. It isn't just that managing a downtown revitalization program is my job, though that is part of it. And it isn't just that I was born and raised in a small historic community, though that is part of it too. I think I am a downtown dork because I truly feel it is important. It is important to our towns. It is important to our business owners. It is important to our quality of life. So, I have made this blog to talk about why shopping local is important and to try and demonstrate the impact that local spending has on our communities. I have no idea where it will lead, but I feel driven to put it out there. So, I hope you read it. I hope you follow it. And I hope that somehow I can make a difference.