Take a Break form the 'Chains' : 8 Reasons to Support Independent Business

Hungry for your favorite neighborhood pizza? You better hurry; it may not be around much longer. These are turbulent times and independent businesses are quietly closing, leaving our neighborhoods with empty store fronts, as the mega-chains build across the street, freshly pumped up with tax payer funded incentives. You can stop the madness and help preserve the American dream. Here are eight good reasons to support independent business in your neighborhood:

Local dollars stay local
While our local politicians chant economic development, giving away millions in incentives, the mega-chains are hauling buckets of money to corporate headquarters thousands of miles away. An Austin, Texas economic impact study found for every $100 spent at a chain, $13 remained in the community while $45 remained when spent with local owned businesses. Local businesses use local services causing an economic chain reaction.

Broaden your horizons
Really? You’re having that for lunch again? I understand the lure. Fast, cheap and you know what to expect. We chew and swallow, trading flavor and enjoyment for convenience and familiarity.

Get to know your neighbors
I truly dig going to my favorite local coffee shop. I know inside I will find ‘my coffee buddies’, other regulars that I have come to share the common bond of loving this little place. I will be greeted with sincere appreciation by the staff, who really do care that I stopped in. I will leave feeling connected and uplifted.

Your patronage defines your future choices
Locally owned business is essential to a healthy community, adding diversity and a sense of place. If you have “been meaning to stop by that little shop”, please, do it now. Start-up small businesses are vulnerable and need the community to incubate them if they are to survive.

Feed your ‘green’ fever
According to the Independent Business Association, local businesses help to sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centers, which in turn are essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss and air/water pollution. They also require comparatively little infrastructure and make more efficient use of public services.

Civic Duty
The evils of corporate giants have been well documented as a catalyst for killing off many mom & pop shops. Some say “survival of the fittest”, but is it a level playing field? The big keep getting bigger with the help of our tax dollars while the little guy gets run out of town. Our local government has to know some one is watching and somebody cares. We need to raise the collective consciousness

Why be Normal?
Normal is average. I want above average. I want to be pleasurably satisfied. I want something more. That is where local business stands tall. Chain companies, mall stores and urban food courts cannot compare to the unique and one of a kind products and services independent owners bring to you. Bonus: Your friends will all marvel how you always know the coolest places to go.

Buying Local makes you Cool
For all the reasons listed above and one more: You are participating and that is cool.It’s easy to sit back and think things will work themselves out or somebody else will do something. That’s what most folks do. Buying local takes little effort, will bring you unexpected joy and help to create a strong and vibrant community. Making you not only cool, but also smart.

Record Mom & Pop Shop's Flop?

Like tales told by our grandparents, we will someday tell stories of the good-old days when someone could open their own little shop and make a decent living. Today the deck is stacked and the mom & pop shop is fading fast.

From big box tax incentives to misguided economic policies and out of reach advertising costs, the indie business owner has no where left to go. In 1900, 50% of Americans were self-employed. By 2000, that number shriveled to 7%. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, over 50% of small businesses fail in the first year and 95% fail withing the first five years!

So who are these seemly normal but obviously crazy people that would bet their future and life savings with odds like that? They are 1.8 million strong and not motivated by delusions of wealth; they simply seek something sustainable which feeds their passion.

Media exposure and prime locations subconsciously rule our choices. Take a look around the corner and you will find what you truly seek. Little independent shops, totally unique and on a different level than trumped-up chain offerings. Today's economic meltdown may well prove to be the perfect storm as our neighborhood small businesses close up shop one after another. It is essential we support our small business hero's that bring the local flavor and spirit to our communities.

In Search of "Yum"

I don't want to sound all 90's or anything, but remember when we were all 'In Search of Excellence'? Customer service was all the rage. Today.....not so much. The dominance of speed and convenience has kicked customer service to the curb. In order to reach mass appeal, today's investments must be homogenized, easily duplicated and fast, fast, fast. The process strips away the natural deliciousness.

My expectations have changed and I find my standards constantly shifting with the swarm to a new normal. What brought it to my attention was a visit to a neighborhood locally owned business. I thank heaven they brought me to my senses. Our communities are full of local goodness; folks who believe they have something special to offer and risk everything they have to bring it to you. That is where you'll find the memorable moments. Unexpected brushes with 'pleasurable' satisfaction. Things that make you go, "yum". Local yum.