A Special Supplement to The Tidewater News
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019
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SHOP LOCAL GUIDE | YEAR ROUND
Shop Local: Not Just For the Holidays S
mall Business Saturday is a shopping day that follows Black Friday. The movement began as a way to both encourage people to also shop local for their holiday purchases and remind them of the benefits of doing so. However, shopping local is not just for your holiday needs.
discover a shop you have driven past dozens of times without noticing. Walking also encourages window shopping and CHECK OUT YOUR pop-in shopping. LOCAL CHAMBER OF Research shows that COMMERCE Your local chamber of people who walk a shopping district tend to be in commerce should keep less of a hurry, linger and regularly update both a business directory longer and make smarter and a calendar of events. purchases. This calendar will highlight a number of events, SPREAD THE WORD including ribbon cutLocal and small busitings, business spotlights nesses depend on word and local events hapof mouth for positive pening in your area. Pick feedback and repeat up a directory or peruse business. Outside of the list on your chamshopping local, the next ber’s website. This is a best thing you can do to great way to expand your support local businesses list of favorite restauis to recommend shops rants or to find your next and services to others. new favorite shop. Give positive reviews of small shops you love on Yelp and other consumTAKE A WALK er feedback websites. DOWNTOWN One of the great things And don’t forget to get about walking is that you vocal on your social media profiles, and notice more of what’s retweet #shopsmall. around you. You could Here are some ways to find great local businesses to patronize.
Deborah Moran enjoying a stroll down Main St., Franklin! There's a lot to see in Downtown...
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019
SHOP LOCAL GUIDE | EFFECTS
8 Reasons To Shop Local S
hopping local not only helps you, it serves an entire community. Here are just eight reasons you should shop local.
1. Inject money into the local economy. When you shop local, your money (and tax dollars) stay in the community, helping your schools, your streets, and your energy service providers. 2. You also keep money in the United States. In fact, if every family in the United States spent even $10 more each month at a locally owned small business rather than at big box stores, more than $9.3 billion would be directly returned the U.S. economy. 3. Purchase one-of-a-kind items and gifts. While big box stores stock a broad inventory and purchase from their suppliers in bulk, local shops tend to purchase from local artisans more often and support the wares of other small businesses. This is why you are more likely to find items in local shops you won’t be able to find at major retailers. 4. You support the business owner and the artisan. This ensures that both the business and the artisan’s wares will thrive in your community. 5. Get the history of an item. Many shop owners are likely to
Susan Jones, left, and Mary Christy Morris of Mackans Office Supply & Printing celebrate their 45th business anniversary with a ribbon cutting on their newly renovation store on Main St. know the story behind a particular item. You can ask where something was sourced or how it was made, and the shop owner will undoubtedly have an answer for you. 6. Great customer service. Small business owners are highly invested in the success of their
shops or services. This translates into making sure each customer’s shopping experience is a positive one. 7. You will raise your property value. Vibrant neighborhoods with thriving shopping districts are highly coveted, which works in your favor if ever you need or
decide to sell your home. 8. You’re going to feel good doing it. Dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins are the happy chemicals produced naturally by your body. Many situations can trigger these neurotransmitters. Helping others is one of them.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019
SHOP LOCAL GUIDE | YOUR MONEY
Spend Local, Save Local O
pening a checking or savings account in your community bank is an often-overlooked aspect of shopping local. According to Banker’s Toolbox, community banks make up 96 percent of all banks, which means your dollars are supporting a whole lot of jobs.
Banking local comes with several benefits to consider the next time you open a checking or savings account.
LOW OR NO FEES
Many local banks and credit unions offer the same services as national banks — like credit cards, online bill payment and a mobile app — but at a much lower cost or with no additional fees. According to the National Credit Union Administration, credit unions consistently offer higher interest rates on deposits and lower interest rates on loans than banks.
GREAT SERVICE
Quality customer service is something that is talked about a lot in relation to shopping small for a reason: local businesses work and live in the same community you do. Not only do they want you to spread positive reviews to your friends, but they will undoubtedly see you around the community. This can be uncomfortable if your experience was negative. At community banks you can expect a teller to recognize you and to take the time to answer your questions.
SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBOR
Local banks and credit unions provide local loans,
© ADOBE STOCK
which means you are quite literally helping to build your community. Small banks are invested in seeing their com-
munity prosper, which also works in your favor if you are looking to take out a loan. Local banks are often involved
in their communities in a variety of other ways as well. Community banks and credit unions pull record numbers of
volunteer hours and are common sponsors for youth sports teams and other causes and events.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019
SHOP LOCAL GUIDE | COMMUNITY BENEFITS
A
Positive Effects
community’s local businesses are often what write the town’s history, initiate and maintain traditions and give a community its special characteristics. Shopping local also creates a positive ripple effect throughout the entire community. Read on to find out how.
YOUR MONEY SUPPORTS YOUR COMMUNITY When you spend local, it stays local. It pays local workers, who send their children to local schools and pay mortgages on homes in the community. Every American worker also pays taxes on money earned in the United States, which is then used to fund education, agriculture, social programs and business. It is a circulation of money that is crucial to a community’s success. Not convinced? Consider this: According to the Andersonville Study of Retail Economics, shopping local generates 70 percent more local economic activity per square foot than their big box store counterparts. YOUR MONEY SUPPORTS YOUR NEIGHBOR Small businesses are run by your neighbors and they employ your neighbors. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 67 percent of jobs in the United States come from small businesses. By sticking local, your money is actu-
Barbara Nixon, owner of Lavender & Lace on Second enjoys the extension of her business. Back: Kasey & Delia Scott, owners of Storehouse Coffee host a pop-up with coffee, iced coffee and delicious homemade treats! ally working overtime. Your dollars because they rely on your repeat are getting you the things you business and word of mouth. YOU GET TO KNOW YOUR need but they also work to get Plus, if you have any questions, COMMUNITY your neighbors the things that they you are more likely to get a knowlThink about how quality cusneed. You might find that the tomer service makes you feel. You edgeable answer and may even sticker price of an item at a local develop a rapport with the owner. are more likely to receive great business is a little higher at times, This investment means they get to customer service at a locally but before you hesitate, remember owned shop than at a big box know you and you, in turn, can get that your dollar is working harder, chain. Local shops are deeply to know them if you frequent their too. shop enough. invested in your experience
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Shop Local
SHOP LOCAL GUIDE | FOOD
Eat Local
E
ating local has a more authentic flavor. By eating local, you support local families, but you are also more likely to consume items that are locally sourced and grown.
There’s a wide variety of restaurants in our communities to choose from, support your local restaurants! Wydia Bailey, owner of Franklin’s Seafood & Steakhouse in downtown Franklin. Here are just a few ways to eat locally. FIND A NEW PLACE If you are unsure which shops are locally owned, then use it as an opportunity to refer to your local Chamber of Commerce’s business directory. Local venues are usually founded around old family recipes. If you have a more adventurous pal-
ette, be sure to order the special. The special is generally either what an establishment is famous for or it is a rotating dish that is meant to highlight something new or uses seasonal ingredients. You will rarely go wrong.
meetings, you will have a say in what the store sells and how its run. Many co-ops prioritize stocking foods that are organic and produced and farmed locally. This is also a fantastic way to get to know your neighbors.
SHOP A CO-OP A co-op is a grocery store that is owned by its shoppers. By paying for a membership and attending
FARMERS MARKETS AND CSAS Farmers’ markets are the best places for local-sourced foods and
fresh in-season ingredients. They are also an integral part of small business in America. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, there were more than 8,000 farmers markets operating in the U.S. as of 2014. Another way to support local growers is through community-supported agriculture, or a CSA. Through a CSA, a farm sells shares of its crops directly to consumers.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019
SHOP LOCAL GUIDE | GOING DIGITAL
Shopping Local Online
Even those of us that do our best to keep our dollars local need or want the convenience of ordering an item online every once in a while. But there are ways to still shop local and take advantage of all the perks online shopping offers (ordering in your sweatpants and getting it delivered right to your door being high on that list).
Emily Gyoker, owner of Kathara Spa showcases her new building located on Main St. in Downtown Franklin!
DO YOUR RESEARCH Before ordering an item from a major retailer, make sure your local store doesn’t have an online shop. Having a professional website is practically standard now, and many businesses are incorporating online shopping into their site along with standard information about their operating hours and services. SUPPORT SMALL There are many online marketplaces where small businesses (and many times one-man shops) can sell their wares. If you can’t support your own community, try to at least support another community and another family business. While your money won’t be coming back to your community specifically, you are still doing
your part to keep money in the United States economy. COMMUNITY SWAPS We all have something to offer and needs to fill. The internet has been a great platform and facili-
tator for community swaps. Check Facebook to see if there is a community swap group for your area. These groups often work like a well-organized online garage sale. People in a given community
can list things they are interested in selling and can also browse other listings. Some items are even given or traded freely. The more we can source and solve locally, the closer we come to achieving sustainability.
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SHOP LOCAL GUIDE | LIFE
Benefit From Hiring Local Wedding Vendors L ocal vendors are often a go-to choice when couples are planning their wedding ceremonies and receptions. As the “shop local” movement grows in popularity, weddings present a prime opportunity to embrace this movement.
Couples may have different ideas regarding where to tie the knot, but local vendors can be hired regardless of geography. Brides magazine says the biggest factor influencing wedding location is the size of the guest list and the number of people who wouldn’t be able to attend if the wedding was in a particular locale. Hometowns might be the traditional choice regarding wedding location, but the XO Group says one in four couples now host destination weddings. Once couples choose a town or city to host their weddings, they can begin exploring the benefits of working with locally-based vendors. FAMILIARITY Local vendors will be familiar with the area and possibly even the location where the wedding will be held. That can help couples avoid having to give directions, discuss venue protocols, and handle other tasks that must be worked out with non-local vendors. For example, local photographers familiar with a particular venue will know all of the best
places to get shots, and some vendors may have preexisting relationships with venue representatives that could ensure wedding day operations go smoothly. PROXIMITY Local vendors can meet with brides and grooms more readily throughout the planning process, making things less stressful on the happy couple. This also makes it easier to drop off deposits, attend meetings, make fitting appointments, or attend styling sessions. SAVINGS Couples who travel for their weddings and employ local vendors will not have to pack as much. Using local vendors eliminates the need to bring along bulky dresses, decorative items, flowers, and much more. Plus, couples needn’t pay to transport and house vendors brought along from back home. ENVIRONMENT Individuals who take great strides to conserve resources by reducing their energy consumption and protecting the environ-
ment often find that shopping local is beneficial. Local vendors are more likely to source their materials from other local businesses, reducing their carbon footprints along the way. For example, local caterers may rely on local farmers for their foods, affording couples the chance to host eco-friendly or even farm-to-table weddings.
CUSTOMIZATION Working with local vendors often translates into getting more personalized service and attention than mass retailers or merchants can provide. Going local when choosing wedding vendors is an increasingly popular choice among couples about to tie the knot.
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Invest in Your Community Money Stays Local When We Shop Local!
Local businesses are the spirit of our community. Why Shop Local?
• Nurture your community • Strengthen your local economy • Enjoy exceptional customer service • Local businesses support area schools & organizations
• Conserve tax dollars • Foster community pride • Creates new jobs • A vibrant business community attracts new business & citizens
A cup of coffee & a dose of news... Start your day off with...
Help stimulate our local economy, shop local! Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce 108 W. Third Ave, Franklin, VA 23851 | 757-562-4900 l www.fsachamber.com
Subscribe today at (757) 562-3187
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SHOP LOCAL GUIDE | TRENDS
Shopping Local By the Numbers M ore and more people are choosing to shop local each year. See how much shopping local can affect your community with these fast facts.
LET’S TALK SMALL BUSINESSES • According to the Small Business Administration, there are 29 million small businesses across the United States. • These businesses account for 99.7 percent of all business in the country and provide 47 percent of the nation’s jobs, according to the SBA. • About 8 million of these businesses are owned by minorities. • Small businesses also donate 250 percent more of their earnings than larger companies to nonprofits and community causes, according to the
Good Business Network. LET’S TALK AMERICAN MADE • The United States lost 5.7 million manufacturing jobs between 1998 and 2013, according to a report from the Economic Policy Institute. Shopping American-made supports those companies that choose to employ Americans. • Shopping Americanmade is something most people prefer to do. According to a recent Consumer Reports survey, more than 60 percent say they will pay up to 10 percent more for the privilege.
The Busy Bee by Betty Jo Bain has Franklin BUZZZ with excitement of her new shop on Main St., in Downtown Franklin.
