Supporting Local Businesses
I actually wrote this a few months ago and never published it. A conversation with @lanora of Next Chapter Book Store sparked me to put it out there…
I’m going to take a moment and deviate from my normal light-hearted quick and easy blog posts to try to bring to light the power of YOU in YOUR community. Now before I go off on a big tangent here I’m not saying you don’t support your community if you shop at Target or Wal-Mart, obviously companies like those employee several people within the community. Anyway, I’ll get on with my actual point now!
Since I have been in business for myself I have taken on a much greater appreciation for where I shop and where the money I spend is actually going. The gas station up the block from my South Milwaukee store is never the least expensive, but I have met the owner, he lives locally and works at his station trying to make a living. Same with the guy who owns the Subway just up the block. Same as me.
Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person who knows what I’m going through and as I lock up the doors and go grab a beer at a bar that one of my friends owns, he is standing behind the bar I realize I’m not alone. Also I realize without each other we wouldn’t survive. Theres no way he can compete with the corporate bar giants the likes of “Bar Louie” and “Buckheads” and I can’t compete against Metro Mart/Pick ‘n’ Save. I never opened my store at “The Blatz” thinking “I’m going to bury the Metro Mart” or any other place that carries beer, wine or liquor. All of these businesses have their place, there will always be people that just want to grab a six pack while getting some groceries and people that want to go to a bar with impersonal or downright rude bartenders and pay $9 for a drink. I don’t fault people for that, in fact I myself participate in such activities every now and then. I just want people to think twice before they spend their hard earned buck.
I know several people that will tell me about buying beer or wine or liquor some where else and I ask them why and the response is typically the same, “I was there and it was only $10″. Now I can’t fault them for the “I was there..” part of the argument. I have not forbidden my friends or customers from ever shopping anywhere else. I’m not unreasonable, I would like to get as much business that I can from everyone, but I also know there are times I need gas and am nowhere near my typical gas station. Its the “it was only $10″ part of the argument that makes me want to jump up and scream! I feel like people don’t understand the impact and power of EVERY dollar they spend. Between Facebook, Twitter and my blog there is close to 1000 people that here me plug my store daily. If Half of those people came in once a week and spent their $10 at my store it would pay my rent. Those “only $10″ add up and mean a great deal to us little guys.
I don’t expect everyone to now only spend their money at locally owned stores. I just urge you to take a moment, get to know some of the local small business owners, if you have the 2 extra minutes it takes to go to their place do it. After you have made your purchase you can feel good about that dollar staying local and going on to be spent again locally.
Joe
