On Saturday I continued my Christmas shopping at The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines. It rates as one of my favorite bookstores, offering that comforting aura with wood floors, beautiful bookshelves, cozy corners, a friendly staff, and a good selection. (Not to mention, they sell my book). I like to support this business whenever possible. Later in the day, when I was sorting through my purchases, I found a small slip of (pink) paper proclaiming the above, “Here’s What You Just Did!”
You Kept Dollars in Our Economy
For every $100 you spend at one of our local businesses, $68 will stay in the community. What happens when you spend the same $100 at a national chain? Only $43 stays in the community.
You Embraced What Makes Us Unique
You wouldn’t want your house to look like everyone else’s in the U.S. So why would you want your community to look that way?
You Created Local Jobs
Local businesses are better at creating higher-paying jobs for our neighbors.
You Helped the Environment
Buying from a local business conserves energy and resources in the form of less fuel for transportation, less packaging, and products that you know are safe and well made, because we stand behind them.
You Nurtured Community
We know you and you know us. Studies have shown that local businesses donate to community causes at more than twice the rate of chains.
It’s nice to see local businesses helping themselves. I’m proud to support The Country Bookshop, in particular. I would rather spend my money at a local business over a chain business, whenever I have the choice. An extra $25 for every $100 spent stays in the community. It sounds good to me. What about to you?
Preservation in Pink 
You are so right on. Where would we be without the local mom and pop shops?
jj- http://javajune.wordpress.com/
That is really cool… I wonder how they figured out the dollar amounts (how do they know how much of it stays in the community?) The slip of paper is an excellent idea for Main Streets
JavaJune – it would be a sad world world without mom and pop shops, indeed.
Kathleen – I agree, an excellent idea for Main Streets. I don’t know how the economics are figured out, but it would be interesting to know. So many people say it matters (shopping locally) and others disagree, so it’s nice to have some evidence supporting local shopping.
Thanks for the comments and interest!