Why Shop Locally?
You may want to shop locally simply because it is a very cool thing to do. But there are also many concrete reasons for supporting locally owned independent businesses.
Local Economic Impact
Choosing locally owned independent businesses over formula businesses will return approximately three times the amount of revenue to our local economy. Not only do local businesses keep their profits here locally, but they also hire local professionals such as accountants and attorneys, as well as those involved with marketing and other local suppliers of overhead services. They are also much more likely to acquire materials locally. All of the management for locally owned independent businesses is local. Our local businesses do not seek tax abatements or other costly incentives to locate here. There is no better stimulus for our local economy than shopping with locally owned independent businesses.
Sprawl
Formula businesses tend to buy up cheap land at the outskirts of town to build new businesses with large parking lots. Frequently they lobby to have infrastructure extended at taxpayer expense. Formula businesses are usually much larger than locally owned businesses. This regional scale of business tends to put our local businesses out of business. It also means that people must drive farther for goods and services, increasing congestion and air pollution. This travel distance and the associated large parking lots make our communities much less walk-able and less attractive. This added concrete contributes to flooding and water pollution due to run off. These businesses are much more likely to clear-cut large tracts of land than are local businesses.
Community
Locally owned independent businesses reflect the unique character of our community. This, too, significantly impacts our local economy, as people come to our community to find something unique and interesting. People are not going to travel far to shop at yet another big box outlet, to eat at chain restaurant just like the ones in their own hometown, or to stay a homogenous franchise motel. People will visit spend money in our community if we provide unique shops and services that reflect our communities unique character and sense of quality. They will find the Brazos Valley an appealing destination, and we will benefit from outside revenue. Additionally, locally owned businesses contribute a far larger percentage of their sales to local charities. Our city councils, city committees, and boards of nonprofits come disproportionably from the leadership provided by our local business owners.
Quality
Locally owned businesses provide quality in what they sell and what they add to our community. Formula businesses exist out of a false sense of economy and convenience. Is a large store really all that convenient when you have to drive a greater distance to get what you want and wait in longer lines? Formula businesses promote low-cost items, even though on average they are not the bargain that they suggest. Formula businesses often hire inexperienced and under-qualified help. Local businesses provide consistent pricing, and they are much more likely to provide seasoned employees who know their business.
Cool, Yet Practical
For all of the reasons shopping with locally owned independent businesses is one of the coolest and one of the most practical things you can do. Let your friends know that you choose our locally owned independent businesses whenever you can.
The following article by Hugh Stearns appeared in Opinion section of The Bryan College Station Eagle December 9, 2003.
Shop often at locally owned stores
The Eagle recently published an editorial encouraging residents to do their shopping locally….good advice on wise consumerism.
….[buy] from locally-owned businesses instead of…national chains….13 cents of every dollar spent in a national chain stays in the local economy….three times that amount stays in the local economy when you shop at [local] businesses
…other compelling reasons….Large chains support business values and are almost completely devoid of family and community values….[and]….do not have a sense of the personality of the communities they impact. In fact they are driven by just one thing: profit.
….Local businesses….are a part of the local economy, community, and culture….
….Bryan and College Station are known as places of unique hospitality and friendliness. If visitors come to town, stay in chain accommodations, eat at chain restaurants, and shop at chain stores, will they see us as different from any other town? On the other hand, if they stay at…one of our…many fine bed and breakfasts,…eat at…one of our…locally-owned restaurants,…go to an event downtown,…and shop at [a unique store], they will have had an authentic Brazos Valley experience. Our economy will be three times richer and we will be able to take real pride in our community…..Local business owners know their customers and their products much better than the unskilled, little-trained staff hired by chains….
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