Feb 2, 2014

Shop Local: Good Community StrategyBy Andrea TestiArgusObserver.com

Shop local programs are a nationwide trend that continues to grow as communities realize the importance of an ability to take control of their own local economy. It takes work from people like you and me to ensure our own prosperity. The benefits of spending more money within our own community are far-reaching. One of the best ways to improve our local prosperity is by supporting locally owned small businesses.

Locally owned small businesses are essential to a vital economy and in defining a community’s character. They use goods and services of other local businesses, serve as community hubs and are necessary components of healthy neighborhoods. They offer personalized attention, add diversity to our shopping options, create local jobs and increase our tax base. Each time you choose to spend your dollars locally (economic studies have documented that for each $100 spent locally, $68 stays in the community), you are reinforcing the continued strength and vigor of OUR community.

Shop local programs range from formal organizations requiring membership that use branded localized marketing materials and “local dollars,” to small groups of business owners co-marketing one another’s products and supporting business-to-business commerce, to forums where the “shop local” buzz is shared among friends. Each program is uniquely crafted based on business mix, regional initiatives and community support. While levels of success are variable, one common key driver of success is the continued maintenance of a community awareness campaign directed at both consumers and business owners.

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