Buy Local

While I have previously addressed the benefits of buying local rather than from chains which remove the profits from the community, media activity in the past two days prompts me to revisit the issue.

Yesterday NPR’s Talk of the Nation Program interviewed Maggie Anderson, of Chicago, who is on a year-long experiment  buy only from black-owned businesses. It is her intent to keep profits in the pockets of her fellow African-Americans in Chicago. She drives up to 20 miles out of her way to buy products from locally owned (not franchised) businesses. While she regrets the fuel she uses driving, she not only is helping and encouraging the local black-owned businesses, but she is also saving money! That is no surprise (to me), as the national chains have perpetuated a myth that they always have lower prices. I applaud Maggie.

This morning I opened an e-mail from COSE (Cleveland’s Council of Smaller Enterprises) with the subject: “Are you keeping our local economy healthy?”. It is touting July 4 – 11 as the regional buy local week. Sponsored by COSE’s I Buy NEO initiative, “This program is designed to engage, educate and empower people to take action in their communities by spending locally whenever possible. Now more than ever, it is critical that people understand the impact of purchases as simple as buying fruit, ordering pizza, or getting their hair done. Our local businesses are what drive jobs, economic growth and income for a stable tax-base. Keeping our local businesses healthy is what will keep our economy healthy. And if everyone does their part, significant impacts can be made.”–quotes are from the e-mail.

The e-mail goes on to say: “If everyone in Northeast Ohio (NEO) pledges to redirect $100 of planned spending to locally owned businesses during Buy Local Week July 4th through July 11th, we can make a significant difference – an amazing additional $48 million dollars will be pumped into the local economy.”

I’m delighted that spring is here and farmer’s markets are back in business, as I love not only the fresh locally owned food, but also helping out the local businesses.

What are you doing to help your local businesses survive and thrive?

Will Limkemann
www.siqualtd.com