TRIBUNE EDITORIAL - A prosperous circle with local spending
... As New Albany approaches its bicentennial celebration in 2013, our local region is primed for a legitimate renaissance period.
One thing we believe can help maintain momentum is a campaign to “Buy Local.”
Recently, a group of local merchants has started meeting to form a group called New Albany First. It’s an excellent cause for The Tribune and our readers to support. When you have a choice, put local businesses first.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
We're so over that whole Wal-Mart thing.
Fangs will be bared at the kitchen table as the Tribune sensibly editorializes.
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7 comments:
I have been to Walmart twice this year, both times in a work capacity. I didn't spend a cent but remain amazed with how many people frequent such. Each time visited, I easily saw 20 people I knew. Not to wax pessimistic, but this is the norm.
Walmart, Target, Meijer, Walgreens and Kroger all have a place in the community. They employee a lot of people and donate money back into the community.
I buy from local when I can, just spent a few thousand at Classic Furniture last weekend and my family eats out at several local restaurants.
There is a place for all the businesses in a community. It takes them all to make a community strong.
One more thought.
I would like more of Buy Local as in the community (I.e. Southern,IN.) Not just New Albany or just small business but in the community itself. The stronger we are the better.
It's important to note that NA First is not necessarily an "anti-chain" movement, but more of a focus on locally owned businesses. Yes, big box stores employ local people, but study after study have shown that job creation from the big box stores are negligible when you account for the mom and pop's that had to close due to the big box competition. Those small businesses tend to pay more as well, have less turnover, etc...
As for donating money, locally-owned businesses give back much more of a percentage of their revenue to the community than big box stores do according, again, to many studies.
No matter, the buy local movements across the country are merely an educational campaign to let residents know the benefits of shopping at independent businesses. Individual residents will need to decide what's important to them.
I'm looking forward to the challenge.
Besides which, New Albany does not yet have the available retail outlets to counter everything chains offer, especially when it comes to grocery items. I still think we can change that and still haven't given up on the idea of the co-op, but that's for another time.
Independent groups like NA First also help encourage others to start their own local businesses, if there's a strong group dedicated to promoting independent businesses, it makes it that much easier.
We've just joined a CSA at our school in Louisville. There are enough farmers in Southern Indiana to do a CSA (community supported agriculture) with drop off in New Albany. Can the Farmers Market research this...it's great off-season, not only for the farmers income, but for families like mine that want to eat local. Grasshopper is the one we are signed up with...could they up us get something up and running on this side of the river?
You're in luck, G. Grasshopper already does New Albany drop off at Bank Street Brewhouse, every Wednesday from 4 to 5.
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