With our families background in small business here in Forest Lake, I’ve always been a proponent of shopping local and keeping the money in the community. Small business is the back bone of every town, and its the owners and employees donating their money, time, and talents to give back to their community. The perfect example of this is when the Lichtscheidl Family who owns Forest Lake Cycle & Skate made a significant donation towards the new FLAAA Sports Center, I vow I will buy every stick, skate, & bike from them.
I recently read about Cinda Baxter, who closed her Minneapolis Stationery Store and started The 350 Project. The project encourages people to help save local small businesses by picking 3 independent locally owned stores a month, and spending $50.00 per month at each store. For more information go to: www.the350project.org. Every Chamber of Commerce should make this concept a part of their marketing!
I also was sad to read about Simonet Furniture Store in Stillwater closing after 145 years. The following comment left by a St Paul Pioneer Press reader speaks volumes:
“Sad to see the store close. I’m not surprised, after 2 years of driving by the store and only seeing 2-3 cars in the parking lot. But lo and behold, as soon as they announced their going out of business sale, over 30 cars have overflowed in the lot. Way to go vultures…pick apart Simonets’ bones, then complain about another local company going out of business. Now that you got your ‘deal’ on quality craftmanship, you can go out and continue to buy your knock-down furniture from your favorite Sam’s or Costco store – nice heirloom stuff, NOT!!”
Whether you are shopping for nuts and bolts, out to eat, or even needing help when a loved one has passed away, please think about the following statistic: For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home. Source: the350project.org
Help build a stronger communtity, shop local!
Kelly
