As consumers, we are constantly being bombarded with messages specifically designed to compel us to spend our money in a certain way. The problem with this is that all too often, we don’t consider how our personal spending decisions will affect our community and our local economy. We have the power to choose where and how we spend our hard earned money, and with great power comes great responsibility. In this case, it is our responsibility to be cognizant of whom we choose to do business with, and to make a concerted effort whenever possible to spend our money in a way that will do the greatest good and will maximize each dollar.
We all know you can find just about anything on the Internet, but there are some things you lose out on when you purchase items on the first website that pops up in response to your search. Most importantly, you lose the ability to benefit from your money in the long run, as money spent locally stays in the community and has the potential to recirculate many times over. Local ownership also ensures that decisions that affect our community are made by the people who actually live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions personally.
At the most basic level, when you buy local more money stays in the community. Jaime Henning of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce says, “Boosting our tax base encourages economic growth in our community while supporting and strengthening our local jobs and businesses. It also preserves and enhances our unique quality of life and attracts new businesses while creating more jobs. As an Economic Development leader in Lincoln, the more awareness our organization can generate for Lincoln based products and services, the more we can grow our sales tax base and boost our local economy. Please remember to buy Lincoln first–when local businesses do well we all do well. It is estimated that Lincoln’s business and government entities spend millions of dollars in goods and services with vendors outside the city. We want to raise awareness that even a small shift in these purchases could make a big difference. This could lead to new jobs and additional revenue for our city.” She adds, “We encourage everyone to support our local economy. One way the Chamber promotes buying local is through our Shop Lincoln program. This program is aimed at helping consumer dollars stay in Lincoln and in the hands of Chamber members. ‘Shop Lincoln’ is the Chamber’s gift certificate program. Participation in the program is a benefit available to all of our member businesses for no additional fee. To learn more about the program or join the Chamber please feel free to call us at (402) 436-2350 or e-mail us at info@LCOC.com.”
Diane Hesson of Play It Again Sports adds, “Buying from local businesses helps the economy tremendously by keeping money right here in Lincoln where it belongs. Furthermore, most small businesses are asked daily to contribute money to local charities and organizations, and we respond by supporting their needs in whatever way possible. All we ask of our community in return is to help keep our doors open by making your purchases in our stores in order to keep that flow going. Along the same lines, buying local should give you a feeling of satisfaction as you play a very significant role in the whole system.
There are so many things that you walk away with when you shop at Play It Again Sports. You have the opportunity to trade in used items on your transaction – to save money. You get face to face interaction with a knowledgeable sales representative who will help you make an educated decision regarding your purchase. This alone should eliminate the ‘return’ factor that often goes along with online purchasing. You can actually touch and try on items to make sure you’re satisfied with the product before it’s too late.”
Jodi Weedin, owner of Uniform Connection, also explains, “When you buy locally, you are making a conscious effort choice to support your local economy that will and does impact our community. The myth about shopping local is that you do it to get that warm fuzzy feeling of helping the little guy, when in reality we want you to shop with us because you’ll get a far better experience and service by shopping with us. Many local businesses are able to offer the same products with similar pricing, but with the added benefit of unmatched customer service and a great shopping experience! Not to mention a brick and mortar store that you can visit and touch, feel and try on items, exchange or return items that didn’t work out, and the opportunity to talk with staff who can give suggestions or advice and who will offer you help with whatever you need.
When you shop at Uniform Connection you’re supporting local families, local students, local schools and local charities. We are always giving back to our beloved Lincoln–we donate scrubs and shoes to Peoples City Mission, we work with Cornhusker Bank during their annual shoe drive, and we donate to multiple schools and community groups in Lincoln to better Lincoln and help the people in our community. We practice what we preach too; we utilize local business for all of our services and needs, both for Uniform Connection and in our own homes!”
She adds, “We offer many products, services and added items to be a one stop shopping experience, including healthcare apparel, chef apparel, comfortable footwear/sandals/boots, medical gear and accessories, support socks, novelty and gift items, embroidery, custom t-shirts, alterations, custom patches, onsite shows, group discounts and group fittings, school fittings, blue collar apparel, corporate apparel, undershirts and knits, kids scrubs, many non-medical products, and so much more!! Our goal is to be the go-to one stop shop for all of your uniform and work apparel needs.
Furthermore, we LOVE our customers! We have a Smart Card loyalty card to thank our amazing loyal customers with discounts, gifts, exclusive special sales, announcements, special perks, invites to exclusive special events and so much more! Local businesses thank you for your loyalty and your patronage in many ways; have you ever gotten a handwritten thank you card from Amazon? Have you ever had a clerk at Wal-Mart ask you how your family vacation was? Do you get loyalty discounts for loyally shopping at Zappos.com? NO you don’t—but Uniform Connection and many other local businesses do just that and more!”
Supporting our local economy is not something that can be achieved without a collective effort from everyone who is a part of our community. Brett Boyer, CEO & Co-Founder of Center Sphere, a local networking organization that promotes and supports local business professionals and the growth of the local economy, explains, “It is very important to support local businesses in all you do! You will find that the majority of the reasons people seek out companies elsewhere is because of pricing. The reason some businesses are priced out of the market is because there hasn’t been enough support locally. If we all support these business, this will in turn drive down local pricing structures and increase everyone’s bottom line! Isn’t that the goal in business?
Furthermore, you can almost always find anything you are looking for in the local business arena. By supporting locally, everyone benefits! The more business you do locally the more that you are creating your own economy and infrastructure. When there are hard times nationally, and even globally, the support for area businesses can stand on this economy they have created by simply supporting one another! I feel that we are very blessed in Omaha and surrounding cities to have the best of the best in any business nationwide! We are a very innovative people and have proven this time and time again, and will continue to do so.”
We encourage everyone to be aware of where and how they are spending their money and to continue to buy local—there are SO many wonderful local businesses and organizations that are worthy of our continued support! Not to mention we all benefit from keeping our money in our community where it can do the most good for us in so many different ways.