Shop Local.

by Webmaster Gun Lake Online

In tough economic times, most of us turn to cutting back and looking for savings. Where are those savings found? Usually at the large discount stores or big box stores. And we all flock there by-passing our locally run stores. We think we are saving our selves money and time. That may be, but what are we sacrificing?

Locally run businesses impact our communities far more than "discount" and "Big Box" stores. Many a consumer considers local businesses as costing more, yet they are the very ones we contact when we want donations for local community events and projects. Buying outside the community diminishes the economic health of the community and a healthy retail sector is attractive to new businesses: Without it, communities have a harder time of attracting new businesses that increase the variety of products and services.

Local businesses are owned by people who live in the community; are less likely to leave; and are more invested in the community's future. Non Profits often receive greater support from local business owners, sometimes as much as 300% more money, than they do from non-locally owned businesses. Local businesses help build strong communities and neighborhoods, linking citizens and nurturing local causes. When businesses are owned by members of the community, the owners have obvious reasons for more strongly and insightfully considering the impacts of important decisions about growth and local politics.

So when you by-pass their store to shop for "savings" or "convenience" your community is slowly losing its strongest support. Small local businesses are the largest employers nationally. Dollars spent in locally-owned business have up to three times the impact on the community as those spent at corporate chains. Remember too, that small businesses are not just the “brick and mortar” store fronts in our downtowns. Many small businesses are run from home. Checking out your area Chambers and Business Associations will help you find businesses you never knew existed in your community.

How can you help our local businesses?

Saving money is a top priority for all of us, including myself. If every one would consider spending just 10 to 20 % of their dollars locally, they could make a difference in the survival of our local businesses and communities.

Remember, most of us are asking our local businesses to sponsor our youth sports, our high school athletic programs, our non-profit organizations, our community events, donating to church functions, employ our teens during the summer, and pay their fare share of taxes.

Local businesses are the corner stone of our communities. Lose that corner stone and the community collapses.

Shop Local as often as possible. Let your local business owner know you appreciate them and support them. Shopping locally is environmentally friendly: creates less traffic, pollution, saves money on gas. Customer service is often better.