We are coming into the season of oodles of shopping. Although I am not a “shopper,” I must admit I do like buying gifts for my 11 year-old daughter, Olivia. Many of us reflexively go to the mall or big box stores for much of our holiday shopping, because we think we will get a better deal. Although that is sometimes the case, I have found that it is certainly not always that way. Moreover, I like to consider other issues when deciding where to shop.
I tend to be a value shopper, that is, I am not just looking for the lowest price. Price is an important element to consider, but so are quality, customer service, travel expenses and the minimization of aggravation. That last one counts a lot in my book. I love the holidays and don’t want to tarnish them with undue or unnecessary annoyances. I’m not a patient man, generally, so I do what I can to avoid aggravation ”“ that is worth something to me. I find big-box, chain stores annoying. After about 20 minutes in one, my back hurts, my feet hurt, a headache comes on and I’m simply not in a good holiday mood. By contrast, when I go to a local store, I typically have meaningful, friendly conversations, often with the owner, I feel good about my purchase and, in general, my shopping experience.
There are many reasons for shopping locally. I’m not asking anybody to do it for somebody else or because it is the morally right thing to do. Others have made that argument. But we should certainly all do it because it is in our interest to do so. Here are the specific reasons why:
1. Locally owned businesses are unique. It is a different and interesting experience each time we shop in one as opposed to uniform décor and products across chain stores.
2. The owners of local businesses are usually in the store, so you can expect to get the very best customer service as opposed to employees in chain stores that may be ill trained, uninformed and often left on their own. When I have had problems with products from chain stores, I often found my very reasonable expectations for resolution were not met, which included having to make multiple phone calls to faraway places that often didn’t get returned.
3. The profits that local business people make are part of a local cycle ”“ being spent right here in our own communities, driving our local economic engine with new hires and an expansion of the tax base, which in turn reduces our own taxes ”“ or at least helps keep them from growing. Chain stores frequently get tax breaks to locate here that our local businesses don’t get, and the profits are never spent here. They are ripped out of our local economy and sent to places in other parts of the country or even the world.
4. We live in Maine not just because it is naturally beautiful, which it is, but because of the culture. We value that village atmosphere and each village is unique. We value knowing the people we buy from and them knowing us.
5. Our experience buying from local business owners is rewarding because it feels good.
6. When travel expenses are factored in, buying from the local business is often less money right from the start.
The bottom line, and I am a bottom line guy, is that it is in our self-interest financially as well as psychically to buy from local businesses and eat at local restaurants.
Thanks for reading, and have a wicked wonderful week.
— Bruce M. Hardina is the publisher of the Journal Tribune, a singer-songwriter, a philosopher, a student of life and the human experience, a columnist, an entrepreneur and a family man. To comment on his musings, email bhardina@journaltribune.com or mail a note to Journal Tribune, Attn: Bruce Hardina, 457 Alfred St., Biddeford, ME 04005.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
