What
it's all about
There
are businesses -- within a mile… two miles… five miles… of your
home -- that cannot be found any other place in the world.
Seriously…
not another exactly like it to be found, no matter where you go.
Oh
sure… you can get pizza… you can buy a cup of coffee… you can
find trinkets like a palm tree with Christmas lights or a bear
stuck in a tree… stumble upon a used book… shoes… muffins… and
so on… just about any place.
That
Santa on a surfboard you found in Key West might be exactly the
same as one in a shop on Cape Cod or in another near San Diego
-- possibly even from the same supplier, differing only in the
city name written on the surfboard (such a simple touch to commemorate
your visit). Heck, you probably even saw the same Santa ornament
in three or four different Key West stores… never mind what is
being sent to points around the country.
And
let’s understand something… with this program, I am not advocating
in any way, shape or form avoiding the franchises and chains and
mega-place-multi-location behemoths. I get it.
There’s
comfort in knowing a menu before you step into a restaurant. You
might not be sampling the local cuisine at its most unique and
finest in a chain locale… but knowing that a burger you’ll enjoy
can be found… or using the gift card in your pocket to help pay
the check… or any of a number of different possibilities may make
it worth eating in a location that is far from home and yet of
the same nation-wide brand that is also found on any day just
down the street.
Larger
inventories, lower prices, and a number of other reasons add up
to why shopping or dining at these places can make sense. Heck,
it can be viewed as responsible decision making to frequent such
establishments. Satisfy the family… quickly fulfill your needs…
good for the checkbook. So this effort is not some attempt to
wave a sword at a giant windmill of corporate greed and blah-blah-blah.
Local
places though are unique treasures, and they make your neighborhood
unlike mine. They create a special community that isn’t replicated
at all in some other part of the country or at an international
destination. And for what they do right, I think it’s worth celebrating
those places -- by experiencing what they have to offer, and by
supporting them.
So
what I am suggesting is that on a single day each month, you deliberately
give thought to your local area and purchase something from the
small business owner.
That’s
it.
That’s
the foundation of Local Friends for Local Business.
The
Village Book Store… Arremony’s Quality Bakery… I could give you
several more examples, but the idea is the same… great people,
great service, and great products. And unless you go to Littleton,
New Hampshire, or Jewett City, Connecticut, you can’t experience
the wonders of these two places.
The
trick is, I believe every state… city… town… community… has outstanding
surprises like the Village Book Store and Arremony’s. You already
can likely name a couple close to you. And, there are certainly
more you haven’t found.
Which
brings us to the two main purposes of Local Friends for Local
Business…
Number
one – To introduce you to some places, or maybe a new way or surveying
the landscape when you travel, that expands and enhances your
experiences.
Number
two – To step inside the door, spend a couple of dollars, and
help keep these places operating.
