Shop Local

Last night, I got a call from one of the boutique owners involved in the Old Town Alexandria Boutique Scavenger Hunt.  She told me that I was one of the prize winners!  I won a gift certificate to Lawrence Miller & Company, one of the boutiques that was "new to me" on the hunt!  I was SO excited!  I can't wait to see what I might buy.  And, truthfully, I probably would not have gone to his store originally if he hadn't been on the Hunt.  But he was so nice and knowledgable, I had already made up my mind to go back.  And now I have money to spend!

The City of Alexandria has been very focused on encouraging people to shop locally.  Here are their 10 Reasons to Shop Local:

1. Keep more dollars in the local economy.For every $100 spent in a local store, $68 will stay in the community. But, spend $100 at a chain store and only $43 stays in the community.
2. Create more local jobs.
   That extra money is spent on hiring more people in the community, who buy their own products and services and pay taxes. 
3. Attract tourism and visitors.
   It’s old Town’s independently owned businesses that make it a unique destination for tourists and residents of the washington, D.C. area. 
4. Get better service.
   Local businesses take more time to get to know you and the products they’re selling.
5. Help local causes.Studies have shown that local businesses provide 350% more support to community causes than national chains.
6. Enjoy a diverse range of product choices.
   Small businesses choose products based on what their customers love and need — not a national sales plan.
7. Help the environment.
   By shopping in a central business district, you discourage sprawl. Plus, purchases by independent businesses typically require less transportation. And our easy Metro access and King Street Trolleys reduce congestion and pollution.
8. Invest in the community.Local businesses are owned by people who live here, work here, and are more invested in our future.
9. Invest in entrepreneurship.Local entrepreneurs work hard to grow their businesses. As they expand, they create more wealth for the local economy.
10. Put your taxes to good use.
    Shopping in old Town requires less public infrastructure, less maintenance and more money available to beautify our community. Also, spending locally instead of online ensures that your sales taxes are reinvested right here in Alexandria.

I love to shop and eat at local establishments when at all possible.  I'll confess - if I need to buy cat food, vitamins, or garbage bags, I'm probably going to go to Target or Walmart.  They have a good selection and things are usually reasonably priced.   It's not often you can find a locally owned specialty store selling those things.

Probably in the more "iffy" category, I normally buy books from Borders or Amazon, rather than a local bookseller.  I should probably try harder to see if I can change this strategy.  

How do you feel about your local merchants and the tradeoffs between shopping there or at chain stores?

Tomorrow:  Fun Times in Charlottesville AND a Lease Update