Back in November, following all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday hoopla, there is this little day known simply as Small Business Saturday.
The point of that particular day is for folks to take a day of their holiday shopping and focus it on buying from small businesses instead of big box stores. Keeping the money local, which then tends to stay local, is another driving force behind the idea.
But why should there be one day out of the year set aside for this kind of behavior. Let's be honest here, there are few things that you can find in a big chain store that can't be found locally at a small business. For every fishing pole at some big outdoors store, there's one probably at a local sporting goods store or hardware store. For those groceries you picked up at some super box store, you can get them at a locally-owned shop. The same goes for toys, electronics, auto parts and more.
Supporting your local businesses is important. Not only does it help keep them in business, but it also helps keep those dollars you've spend right in your own community.
One of the downtown development agency directors that the Second Wave staff works with is pretty passionate about keeping money in the community. So much, in fact, that at the end of his emails, below his signature, there is an interesting tidbit of information that should be printed on the U.S. dollar bill: Spend $100 locally, $62 stays right in your community. Spend that same $100 at a national chain, only $42 stays in your community. Spend that same $100 online, $0 is returned to your community.
A whopping 20-percent difference in how much in the way of funds stays locally. Isn't that enough to convince you to step out of your house, do your holiday shopping (and as much of your shopping as possible, for that matter) right in your local community?
Beyond the idea of keeping 60-percent of your locally-spent dollar in your own community, what are the other draws of spending your hard-earned cash at a local store instead of a national retailer? How about personalized service, or the focus on customer service? Or the way those you frequent remember your name, your shopping and buying preferences and then start a conversation over the fact that little Timmy hit a home run in last week's baseball game?
Small businesses may charge a dollar or two more, but the numbers about local dollars staying local are pretty impressive and should act as a factor in convincing shoppers to spend their money in the towns and regions that they call home.
It's always best to go out and support your local small businesses. Doing so supports your friends, your neighbors and your fellow Michiganders.
Don't wait for a special day to celebrate your small businesses--make every day Small Business Day.
Sam Eggleston is the managing editor of Mid Michigan Second Wave and a full-time freelance writer. He was born and raised in the Michigan and learned from a young age that spending money locally helps keep locals in business. He can be reached via email.
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