Shop Unchained

As a new business owner competing in a challenging economic climate with big box stores with multi-million dollar advertising budgets, it is easy to feel a bit like David in a share of mind battle with Goliath. So I joined a local initiative called Shop Local Raleigh which is encouraging folks to support independent stores like mine. Here is one amazing statistic from them: If each household simply redirected just $100 of planned holiday spending from chain stores to locally owned merchants, the local economic impact would reach approximately $10 million.

That’s a pretty amazing statistic. But think about it. I use a local attorney, accountant, printer, and graphic artist; I source products like handmade cards and soaps from local small businesses; I switched to a local supplier for office products and shopping bags. Where do you think Walmart prints its flyers? Where do you think their payroll and accounting functions are run out of? Bentonville Arkansas is my guess. Local firms procure local goods and services at twice the rate of national chains. Even with my meager budget, I know that I make a difference to my fellow small business owners.

So as you enter this holiday gift buying season, please pause a moment and consider what you buy and where you buy it. We are all scaling back (me included) so your choices are even more critical. For example, when you buy soap from Calm and Sense, chances are you will select one that comes from beekeepers out in Elon, NC who make every bar by hand or the former restaurant owner here in Raleigh who has become a passionate soapmaker. When was the last time a mall store employee could tell you the name of the person who hand blended their products?

So shop “unchained” this year and get to know your local small business owner. We’ll be there to greet you and thank you personally.

For more statistics about local spending impacts check out http://www.shoplocalraleigh.org/learn/facts_about_shopping_local.html