Locally Owned vs. Shopping Locally
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There needs to be some clarification about shopping locally.
Shopping locally and shopping at a locally owned business are two different things.
While spending money at a big box store or chain restaurant is shopping locally, it’s not shopping at a locally owned business.
It is the locally owned businesses that need support most of all. We don’t have Wall Street backing. We don’t have marketing millions.
Yes, shopping locally does help, but shopping with locally owned businesses helps where it is needed most. It helps in our community, right here in Moore County.
When you support a locally owned business you are supporting the people who are in your neighborhood, the families you meet at PTA, the people who go to your church, the faces you recognize at the high school game, the folks who feel it is important to volunteer in our local charities.
Local business owners fill the memberships of our community associations like Kiwanis, Rotary, the Lions Club and so many more. There are many studies that show that a high degree of local business ownership in a community increases the capacity of residents to act together for the mutual benefit, to solve problems and to further local goals.
An economic impact study of chain retail stores and chain restaurants versus independent retailers of Salt Lake City was recently conducted by a Civic Economics Survey.
It reveals national chains’ local recirculation of revenue to be only 13.6 percent, where spending with locally owned independent businesses had a local recirculation of revenue of 52 percent.
Please help keep our community vibrant, our downtowns occupied, and remember that, just because you are at the top of the food chain, it doesn’t mean you have to eat in one.
Scott Dawson
Southern Pines
Editor’s Note: The writer has owned The Squire’s Pub for 22 years.
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Comments
herecomesthescience 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I usually prefer to eat at local establishments, but shopping is a different matter. Simple fact, unless you want knick-knacks, ladies clothing, or upscale stationary and frilly home accents, there is really nothing here of any interest. If you are male and under 70 you have little or no reason to go in most local shops other than the big box stores for essentials and electronics. It would be so nice to get some more variety here but alas, it seems the only business local shop keepers want is wealthy golf widows, or old men looking for golf or cheesy golf clothing.
BillLindau 5 months, 2 weeks ago
If you want to do something for local businesses, boycott WalMart and run them out of the Sandhills.
geoffcutler 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Boycott WalMart and run them (and the jobs they offer) out of town? Why? Ever shopped there? Why pay more somewhere else? For that matter, ever shopped at a Dollar store? Take a can of Deep Woods OFF. Around $6 at a market or more at convenience store. $3 at Dollar store for the same product. WalMart haters are bizarre. I shop at plenty of locally owned businesses and almost always eat at locally owned restaurants. At Christmas, I buy presents at locally owned stores. Sometimes, you can see local owners of local stores and restaurants shopping there too.
fugitiveguy 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Run WalMart out of town? Surely you can't be serious.
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Herecomesthescience ~ I'm with ya all the way. Being a male in my 30's I have no interest in any of the nick nack patty wack stores in the area. I'd love to see a Woodcraft or an Orvis or something of the like come into the area. Until then my dollar is spent online. We have a serious lack of practical goods in the area. Although unpopular to many, I was happy to see Dick's come to town. Now I can actually get a pair of running shoes.
Thatcher 5 months, 2 weeks ago
pack and geoff-- Spot on. Did the letter writer ever consider that many folks who work at the places he detests also serve on the PTA, etc.? Perhaps not. Is it more likely that an employee/manager of a chain store is less likely to "volunteer in our local charities?" Why? I've golfed in several charity tournaments in the past two years, and Outback provided free food for each one of them. I'm all for supporting local businesses, but this letter denigrates anyone who works for a "chain" store. Fact is, they are just as important as the owner of the Squire's Pub, which is a great restaurant. Cheers!
peterprints 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I think the people who spend all day trying to respond to “Letters to the Editor” at The Pilot should find something else in their lives. You hate/dislike the golf geezers…(Idiot Alert: You moved to the #1 GOLF CAPITAL east of the Mississippi…who did you expect to live here?). Some of you hate/dislike the “golf souvenir” shops, I suppose the last time you were in Paris or Poughkeepsie; you didn’t pick up something to remind you of your trip. Idiot Alert: You moved to the #1 GOLF CAPITAL east of the Mississippi! Those of you who want this store or that store only really want to make this place into the place you left up north…why did you leave there? Maybe the people who came here before you don’t want another northern city in the south. I’m not against Wal-Mart even though its current version would greatly distress Sam Walton (remember those “Made in America” signs on every rack?). Having eaten frequently at the original Bonefish Grille in St. Petersburg, Florida, I was very happy when the Outback corporation (who bought that locally owned restaurant) moved here. HOWEVER, I still eat at Ashton’s, Chef Warren’s, Ten-ya, 195 and dozens of other locally owned great restaurants. And that’s the point that the people who have too much time on their hands have missed. “Shop Small” was instituted by American Express to help out local businesses three years ago. Its growth has been exponential in those three years. The day is wedged in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. IT’S ONE FREAK’N DAY for God’s sake! Lighten up you defenders of the box stores! Get a freak’n life! Local businesses include florists, hardware stores, party stores, specialty clothing stores (please, don’t make me list them all) and if you think this area is nothing but shops selling golf tchotchkes, get off your butt and go to Aberdeen or Southern Pines or Pinehurst and open your eyes...you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Thatcher 5 months, 2 weeks ago
"Defenders of the box stores..." Actually, I'm a defender of any store that provides jobs so folks can support their family. Why would this bother you? Cheers!
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Peterprints ~ you obviously are not to intertwined in the golf/resort business. East of the Miss. Is beyond your realm.
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SPUW~ good god man! You're inventing scapegoats by the minute. Whites, republicans, capitalism, and now everyone that is a small business owner is all of the above.
Flabbergasted 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I seriously can't believe that this article was written. Where in the world did you get the notion that people do not know the difference? And peterprints, I think its pretty presumptive that you automatically assume that people who mention stores they like to see here, have moved from up north and not a moore county native. Where did that come from? If you look at Village of Pinehurst, it is nothing but a majority of women's boutique shops, not to mention both sides of broad street in Southern Pines. I'm guessing that's where those comments were coming from. And Aberdeen? What is there for men to shop at? I'm not attacking you, but your hypocritical comment on how people who respond/comment on letters to the editor need to find something else in their lives, was the longest tirade I've read, east of the Mississippi!
herecomesthescience 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Amen, Flabbergasted! I have no hate for golfers or the golf industry here, and I did not move here I am from here. I just hate the fact that every local retail shop in town seems to be geared towards older people and ladies clothing. Other than service industry shops, there is nothing at all in retail for anybody male and under 70 here. I would very gladly support local shops here if they had anything at all I could use, but sadly Amazon.com and driving to Raleigh or other nearby areas provide much better merchandise, there is no denying that.
JD 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Reminds me when the owner of Mac's wrote a letter to the editor complaining how many don't patron his place as much. Well when you keep raising prices for a product that does not get better what do you expect?
And many here are accurate in saying where does someone shop that doesn't want to dress like Payne Stewart? Where does someone eat where the food isn't bland? Thai Orchid is good, so is 195, maybe bland Scottish food isn't where its at anymore.
skylinefirepest 5 months, 2 weeks ago
JD, Squires Pub is great...try it sometime! But every store is needed to keep the local economy on the good side. SPUWS...you just love to bring race into it, don't you?? Why don't you make a real effort to get to know one of those local store, white, Republican, tax cheating, owners and make your own decision based on friendship rather than race?? I accused you, a few days ago, of being the racist one here and you simply prove it more each time you write.
Guy_Forks 5 months, 2 weeks ago
"locally owned independent businesses had a local recirculation of revenue of 52 percent."
Internet retailers contribute 0%, but has half the price on the same product. Why should I buy local? I'm sorry but my wallet is not a jobs program. Offer a better value/product, or go beg at the government tit like GE, GM, and the rest.
This is the consumer attitude that has always been, get used to it.
JD 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Squires Pub is great...try it sometime! Did way back when, wasn't impressed. Tried it again for St. Pats a few years later, still meh.
But every store is needed to keep the local economy on the good side. Even Wal-Mart.
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Here's a good article on how the small man has vanished. When was the last time anyone saw a butchers shop?
http://m.aol.com/dailyfinance/default/articleStory.do?category=main&url=http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/04/07/25-things-vanishing-in-america-part-2-butcher-shops/&icid=dsk_df_news
skylinefirepest 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SP, you're just simply amazing...you say you don't want to know any of the white shopkeepers...you just want them to pay their fair share of taxes...without ANY EVIDENCE that they are not doing so. Wow!! I'm glad I don't know you in person....I don't think we'd get along! I don't really care for racist people...and you're one of them.
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SPUW ~ what about these people......... http://www.westernjournalism.com/tax-cheating-obama-staffers-owe-how-much-in-back-taxes/
Shouldn't they pay their "fair share"????
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SPUW ~ if you would read that article I posted you would see who the "damn hypocrites" are.
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Or how about these hypocrites???? http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/politicians-trouble-taxes/story?id=16151459#
Naw, you're just a racist that hates crackers.
Thatcher 5 months, 2 weeks ago
southernpinesupperwestside-- Like you, I want to "'crack' down on these major tax cheats." Let's start with this guy: http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2004404787_sharpton10.html. Once we put the Rev. Al behind bars, those dang white Republican small business owners in Southern Pines will see the light and pay their "fair share." But I'm curious...what is Rev. Al's "fair share?" Cheers!
skylinefirepest 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SP...I'll be glad to tell you who a hypocrite is....it's your annointed one-the obumma himself. Didn't he say he was going to have the most open administration in history? Didn't he say he was going to cut the spending and the deficit? Just a couple of questions for you to ponder.
Thatcher 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Ha! My wife wanted to use the computer to order Christmas gifts for our daughter, and she saw my post. She then said, "You'd better be nice to that man." I love my wife! And yes dear, you can have the computer. Cheers!
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Did you hear that Liberals? Only white Republicans are capable of owning a small business.
Thatcher 5 months, 2 weeks ago
southernpinesupperwestside-- My wife may not speak to me for a week. That was the dumbest post I've ever seen here (amazingly, you've outdone JimHeim...which many would deem impossible). You can do better. Lose the race thing. Cheers!
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Funny, I know more liberal tax cheaters than I do republican tax cheaters. But what's the point in arguing with you SPUW. Say a prayer to your omnipotent deity tonight, the president of the United States of America................. Barack Obama.
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Winner winner chicken dinner!! SPUW takes the cake for being the stupidest poster on the Pilot. Most of the idiots on here are just naturally stupid, but you SPUW intentionally go out of your way to prove to the world how much of a moron you truly are.
njc17 5 months, 2 weeks ago
This discussion was about shopping ;ocal, why does every chit-chat HAVE to become a racial diatribe when SPUWS gets involved. Local owned business provides great supplimental gifting and personal needs, but local business provides better cost for the buck. Walmart, Sreinmart, Kohl's TJMax, all being chains can buy in bulk providing savings locally owned businesses cannot do. But these chains also provide much needed jobs locally. I too like to remind myself of yesteryear, when I could call down to the local grocery, and get a box of groceries delivered - To The Table- for 5 or 6 dollars [ back in the 40's] or go down to the local general store for simple goods, but those days are long gone and will NEVER return. Walmart is here until something better comes along. As for restaurants, there is a staffing problem in the sandhills. you will find most restaurants now get their srtaffing from Lee, Richmond, Hoke and Cumberland. People I have talked to look for the specialty restaurants which there are very few of and a top quality chef of which there are 2 or 3, rest are cooks ranging to very bad to fairly good.
AFCHIEF 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SPUWS
Hey this guy in the video is talking to you
http://www.youtube.com/v/F0sk4yGaEk8&hl=en_US&fs=1&;
skylinefirepest 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SP...just because you are getting whacked on doesn't by any means indicate that you're telling the truth. If you want to improve the fiscal standing of this great nation...simply get rid of the sub-standard leadership currently in office....really simple isn't it??? Six trillion in new spending. NO CUTS in spending. Only lip service to cutting spending. Raise the debt limit AGAIN!! Wants control over the debt limit. Wouldn't a sensible person say that obumma really wants to bring this great country to it's knees??????
njc17 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SPUWS: Do you have an inkling what you are talking about? small business people are the tax cheats? no wonder you are content to be on welfare and foodstamps. Son, wake up and smell reality.
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SPUWS ~ if you could just admit for one second that your party is just as guilty as the republican party. I just might start making some phone calls for ya.
Arestorer 5 months, 2 weeks ago
southernpinesupperwestside; Please leave Moore county to spend your money...And make sure you dont spend at a privately owned buisness....You seem to be under the impression that the self employed means Were rollin in the dough....WRONG !! Were making at or below the poverty level...All the money your employer use to send to the Government for you,,,We pay...All insurance,We pay....All buisness repairs, We make or pay for....No IRA's,,No savings.......Bookkeeping,We do it...Janitor,We do it.. Please take your welfare Money elsewhere....
njc17 5 months, 2 weeks ago
That is totally made up son. where'd you get that?
babiehop 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I love to shop local and pay in cash and not require a receipt.
AFCHIEF 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SPUWS you don't have a clue what you are talking about when it comes to small business. I have my own company and PAY OUT MY BUTT taxes for the one and only employee ME!
Watch this racist video again. Oh oops its from a black man so he must be an uncle tom
http://www.youtube.com/v/F0sk4yGaEk8&hl=en_US&fs=1&;
AFCHIEF 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SPUWS, cite your facts if you know what that means
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Starting to smell like Dusty??
skylinefirepest 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SP...where in the world did you get your "facts from the IRS"????? Smells like a series of liberal lies to me. Fess up, Dude, Where are the facts?? I couldn't find them by googling so give us a clue. And where in the world do you get this absolute bull hockey that most American small business people are Republican? And.....oh, never mind....I'm betting you can't answer my first question, let alone any others.
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SPUWS ~ this is how real life works. If you can't back up any of your claims you lose all credibility. You are now at zero. Good luck!
AFCHIEF 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SPUWS you are full of nothing but lies. Where are your sources for all these #s you come up with. I'm sure you'll reply with more love for Obamantion and nothing else.
Thatcher 5 months, 2 weeks ago
njc17-- "That is totally made up son. Where'd you get that?" If I were a betting man, I'd bet he got it from the Democrat Chairman of Moore County. Or else he got it from "The Onion." Logical guesses, both. Cheers!
packwilleat 5 months, 2 weeks ago
-20
Thatcher 5 months, 2 weeks ago
When IRS officials are "engouraging" small business owners, I get excited. OK. Maybe not. Cheers!
The_AnonymusProfit 5 months, 2 weeks ago
'I um....yea....hey westsideshamestory, i think you need to get an education before you speak again/.
Yukonjohn 5 months, 2 weeks ago
LMAO, hey Pack, the only thing lower than his credibility is our temperature!! He is racing to catch that or it sure appears so. I pay no attention to him anymore, he never did back up a single "fact" he had.
AFCHIEF 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SPUWS why don't you use word to spell check your stupid posts
njc17 5 months, 2 weeks ago
SPUWS; you resort to nasty unfounded comments, because you seem to totally uneducated about the current events of the day, and you want to sound important among your peers. You make completely unfounded statements and dare everybody else to disprove them. This is straight out of the Obama playbook. You can sit at your keyboard and snipe all you want, but all it does is shows to the readers here how insanely jealous and downright dumb you seem to be. There is NO racism on this board. there is NO racism in the republican party. It all in your head. It's your base feelings of inadequacy, showing up in your remarks. Having opinions is one thing, manufacturing facts is quite another. take a deep breath son, and get back to genteel discussion.
The_AnonymusProfit 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Amen njc17
mymindwanders 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Wasn't this article about shopping @the locally owned businesses ?Why such Hate & Anger,spuws? Why is it ok to get "extra" food stamps,which comes from taxes,seems like stealing to me. yet, we're the hypocrites.
skylinefirepest 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Sp, listen dude, I'm just sick and tired of your hate, racism, and lies....you, like your buddy the obamination are just full of crap. Can't back up your lies, can't produce jobs, or wealth, or security for the country. Just give it up and admit that your posts are just hate filled bullshoots.
Yukonjohn 5 months, 2 weeks ago
You know Skylinefirepest, it is kinda funny (ironic) to me.....if that person was up here (where there is as close to ZERO black/white discrimination) the black people would run him/her out!! Racist attitudes are not readily accepted up here. The discrimination one might find is in the native/white races. It has even got much less in the 30+ yrs l have been here. Still see fistfights, but it is mostly between white guys. When l first got here, one would see at least one fistfight a night in the bars, many times, several over the course of a night. Never, or very rarely between races.
Isn't this odd, an article on local shopping (which is good for a community) turning into a racial discussion....pitiful.