May shop local

shop local May 30, 2014

2 - Shop Local, Ravalli Republic, Friday, May 30, 2014

Shop Local by the Numbers

By RUSS LAWRENCE for the Ravalli Republic

Why keep your dollars local? Let’s look at some of the best reasons: 1. It’s the cheapest form of economic development. Keeping dollars in the local economy creates more jobs, and makes communities stronger.

2. Local independent businesses contribute more, proportionally, to local charities than do large stores and chains, or distant online businesses.

3. Local businesses generate 70 percent more local economic activity per square foot than big box retailers, in the form of wages, taxes, and business spending.

4. If every family in the U.S. shifted just $10 a month from shopping at national chains back to a local independent store, the net gain to our economy would be $9.3 billion.

5. Local businesses in town centers require comparatively less infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services than big-box stores located along “strips” or outside city boundaries.

means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

7. Local businesses add character, quality and charm to our community, not to mention more choices. Often, these smaller shops carry unique items not sold elsewhere, many of them locally-produced.

8. Shopping locally increases local economic resilience, the ability of a community to weather economic hardship.

9. A network of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices in the long term.

10. Attract even more local businesses. A growing body of economic research shows that entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.

6. Shopping locally can reduce your environmental impact.

Locally owned businesses make more local purchases, requiring less transportation, and are generally located in town or city centers. This

ravalli republic

232 west Main Street, Hamilton, MT 59840 363-3300 • www.ravallirepublic.com

Jim McGowan Publisher Sherry Devlin Editor Jim Coulter GENERAL MANAGER Dara Saltzman & Jodi Wright Production & Design Frannie Cummings, Kathy Kelleher, Jodi Lopez, Justine Morris Project Sales

Shop Local, Ravalli Republic, Friday, May 30, 2014 - 3

4 - Shop Local, Ravalli Republic, Friday, May 30, 2014

Ravalli County nonprofits benefit from local shoppers

By RUSS LAWRENCE for the Ravalli Republic

In Ravalli County, when there’s a need that isn’t being met by government agencies and that can’t be addressed profitably by business, the nonprofit sector steps in. Our nonprofits are there for us, providing crucial social services and educational opportunities, maintaining and expanding our recreational choices, and enriching our lives with arts and entertainment.

But those involved in that sector know they shouldn’t be taken for granted. They also know that support from local businesses is critical to their success.

“Local businesses . . . are what make nonprofit organizations like the Bitter Root Land Trust possible,” asserted Gavin Ricklefs, executive director. “Local businesses - like Bitterrooters, in general - are extremely generous with their time, in-kind, and financial support.

The Land Trust, like many local nonprofits, relies on this generosity to sustain our operations and programs. The vast majority of our annual operating funds come from our local community, and local businesses play a huge part in that annual fundraising.”

Locally owned businesses aid nonprofits with more than just donations, said Emma’s House executive director Val Widmer. Hamilton businesses allowed high school art students to paint their windows, as a way to increase the visibility of the organization’s child abuse prevention campaign.

“Shopping locally increases our visibility,” Widmer explained, as shoppers encounter the window displays and find literature within that furthers the campaign.

Store owners are “hit up” almost daily for donations, said Joan Prather, director of the Stevensville Main Street Association – itself a

nonprofit. Those businesses respond with support in a variety of ways.

“We nonprofits ask the local businesses for accommodations to sell our tickets, baked goods, place information tables. They are the biggest supporters of our events, festivals, causes, and programs,” she said Nearly everyone in the valley is a member or supporter of a nonprofit, or benefits from their activities. What can they do in return?

“They expect that when you buy your school supplies, that you will shop local first,” Prather said. That locals will not buy the cookies, muffins, or other supplies for their events from box stores in Missoula, but buy them locally.

“Buy your supplies locally, and invest your dollars back into your own community,” she urged.

Tom Kresan is a member of Circle 13, a group advocating for a skatepark in Hamilton. He notes that when a local business displays their materials or puts up a collection jar, it makes “a public statement to the community that the business owner understands the project, its benefits, is willing to advocate to local government, and wants to be counted on for financial support.”

Shop Local, Ravalli Republic, Friday, May 30, 2014 - 5

Their project, he believes, will be good for business, drawing people to Hamilton. He, like others, can make the case to business owners that their donation makes sense. “It is totally a win for this community.”

When a business makes that kind of public statement, it’s invaluable in winning support for a project, but Widmer explained that the benefits run both ways. When an organization lists its business community supporters, members are more likely to shop there.

In the case of Emma’s House, “the message is that this business is supportive of services that help kids and families in our community.”

Supporters of area nonprofits are frequently reminded to shop at the businesses that sponsor and contribute to those groups because of the direct connection between where they shop and the group’s success.

“We should never ask them for contributions if we are not going to shop local and support them,” Prather said.

Ricklefs likened the Bitter Root Land Trust to a business.

“Like other small businesses, we depend on our local community for support and know how important shopping and giving locally is,” he said. “As a member of the Bitterroot community that relies on the

generosity of local businesses and individuals, the Land Trust always shops locally. We, too, do everything we can to give back to those businesses that invest in our organization and our community.”

In the end, it works to everyone’s advantage to keep dollars in the local economy.

“Shopping locally means you are contributing to a community that cares about being unique, and offering something special that you might not find anywhere else,” Widmer pointed out. “The business owners are people who live here, so therefore they are invested in the future of our community.”

“Local businesses invest in projects that enhance our community, provide critical services, and improve our quality of life, because what’s good for the community is good for business,” Ricklefs said.

“Shopping locally doesn’t just support local businesses, it supports the local nonprofit organizations in which those businesses invest.”

Prather summed it up: “Shop local is a win/win for everyone!”

“From both sides of the counter, as a business or a local shopper, having the personal connection and one-on-one contact with our community.”

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6 - Shop Local, Ravalli Republic, Friday, May 30, 2014

Combine the best of local and online while supporting Bitterroot Valley businesses

By RUSS LAWRENCE for the Ravalli Republic

When most people think about shopping local, the image that comes to mind is visiting a brick-and-mortar store. That’s still largely the case, and much of the pleasure of visiting a Main Street business is the face-to-face interaction, both with the staff as well as with one’s neighbors, when you casually run into them.

Still, there are those times, whether for convenience or other reasons, when you’re inclined to sit down at the keyboard instead, and do your business online. It may come as a surprise, then, that many Bitterroot Valley businesses can accommodate that choice as well.

Of course, many Bitterroot Valley businesses now have an online presence, at a minimum a website or Facebook page to announce their hours and contact information. Others have some degree of

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online ordering functions, ranging from “email us with your request,” to interactive catalogs and shopping carts.

Some businesses, though, have been more affected by the electronics revolution, and have had to adapt in novel ways.

One such example is Chapter One Book Store in downtown Hamilton. They’ve offered the capability of ordering books online for years, offering either a direct-to-home shipment option or free instore pickup. As the rise of e-books has disrupted the industry and nibbled away at sales of printed books, they’ve found a way to deal with that, as well.

Now, you can download a book to your iPad, e-reader, tablet, or smartphone, via the store’s own website, thanks to a partnership between the American Booksellers Association and e-reader manufacturer, Kobo. Browse tens of thousands of books and, when you’ve made your selection, download it to your device, and pay by credit card.

The book is delivered to your device just as it would be from any other site, and your local bookstore earns a small commission on the

Shop Local, Ravalli Republic, Friday, May 30, 2014 - 7

sale. (The only device on which it won’t work is a Kindle, which remains a proprietary product tied exclusively to Amazon.)

“With expanding and changing technology, so many people are opting for electronic books,” observed co-owner Shawn Wathen. “It’s all about reading, and you have to reach out to those people, while recognizing the value of supporting your own community. We try not to bury our heads in the sand. Things change, you have to have both.”

Local drugstores have found ways to combine online convenience with old-fashioned service. Both Bitterroot Drug in Hamilton and Valley Drug and Variety in Stevensville, for example, offer online prescription refills. Simply enter your prescription code and, if refills are available, they’ll fill the order and ship it out, to be delivered to your doorstep by their own employees, if you live within their delivery districts.

Another business that has been upended by online commerce is travel. Airlines and other carriers now operate their own sites, where consumers can book directly. Online travel sites have made it easy to compare fares and other amenities, and to book packages including air travel, hotel, and activities.

When something goes wrong, though, dealing with online customer service can be frustrating, or just plain impossible. Online travel sites may disclaim responsibility for airline problems, and airlines may be reluctant to deal with customers who booked through a third party. What to do?

Big Sky Travel in Stevensville turns those online hassles to their advantage. They thrive on customers who want to have a familiar voice to call, someone who can go to bat for them when problems arise. They also are accustomed to putting together entire travel packages, and will happily work with people to put together exactly the trip they want – with less hassle than travelers would face, doing it themselves online.

They take care of all the online business and, when all the reservations are made, they email an itinerary, with an app to click on that links to current airline departure and arrival times, travel delay warnings, destination weather, and more. Owner DeeDee McGowan says that it’s their most internet-savvy, frequent-traveler clients who appreciate that – though they, too, also appreciate hearing a reassuring voice if things go wrong.

Visitors can book package vacations directly through their website, but McGowan points out that their specialty is building individual

packages, including guided tours, airport transfers, cruises, and rental cars.

They’re also the solution for those who don’t have a credit card for online payment, or who just prefer to pay in cash.

The bottom line: It may be easier than you imagine to combine the satisfaction of shopping locally, and the convenience of doing business online. Before sending your money out of the local economy, investigate whether you might be able to combine the best of both, at the same time!

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8 - Shop Local, Ravalli Republic, Friday, May 30, 2014

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for the Ravalli Republic

The Hamilton Downtown Association announces its “Shop Local Raffle,” to run from June 1 until the drawing during Daly Days, at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 25.

Enter the raffle by presenting three receipts, dated between June 1, 2014 and July 25, from any HDA member business. Those businesses are listed on their website, www.hamiltondowntownassociation.org, and will be made available at numerous locations.

Three receipts will earn one raffle entry, and participants will have three raffle prizes to choose from. Three more receipts — in any amount — will earn another raffle entry, with no limit on the number of entries.

HDA members include many local banks and financial institutions, and even non-profit organizations. Raffle entries can also be earned by presenting deposit slips or donation receipts for those members.

The amount of the receipt does not change one’s odds of winning – a receipt for a small transaction counts just the same as a large transaction. The important thing is to support the community by shopping at HDA member businesses.

Receipts can be validated and raffle entries deposited at the Ravalli Republic office, at 232 W. Main St. in Hamilton, or Bitterroot Drug, at 211 W. Main St., during their regular business hours, or at a booth on Main Street during Daly Days.

Receipts will be stamped and returned to participants, for their own records.

Raffle prizes will be posted at the HDA website, and at the redemption locations.

For more information, visit the website www.hamiltondowntownassociation.org , or contact the HDA at (406) 360-9124, or by email at hamiltondowntownassociation@gmail.com .

Shop Local, Ravalli Republic, Friday, May 30, 2014 - 9

Get a Local Education

Local business owners are often treasure troves of historical knowledge related to your area, so shopping locally can provide you with a full-blown education.

The next time you are perusing through a downtown business, ask yourself if you know the history of the building you are in. No? Odds are the owner does.

They can give you detailed information about their buildings or the services that used to be offered there because they are privy to past records and business documentation. They know who owned the building before them, probably dating back to its construction.

Bring the Kids

It’s never too early to pass on the values that drive you to shop local and support your neighbors. Your sons, daughters, nieces and nephews will earn money and shop for themselves one day, and they may even be future small-business owners.

Bringing them along for the shopping trip to your favorite downtown store will give them a great understanding of the benefits of spending money locally and may spark an entrepreneurial spirit within them.

School Partnerships

Many local businesses have formed partnerships with schools to promote the importance of shopping locally. Strategically placed around annual spend-happy periods such as back-to-school shopping, these links attract more parents and ­children into local shops for items such as school supplies, backpacks and clothes.

In addition to bringing in more business, local owners use these partnerships to educate young people about entrepreneurship, economics and finances. Teachers are use the promotions to focus on these topics, many times through week-long lesson plans.

If your local school doesn’t participate in such a program, consider pitching the idea to your local PTA members or administrators. It’s never too early to plant the seed of business in the minds of our youth.

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10 - Shop Local, Ravalli Republic, Friday, May 30, 2014

Boost Your Economy It’s simple economics. As much as $75 out of every $100 that you spend at locally owned businesses remain in your area, according to recent studies.

Compare that to $40 at non-locally owned establishments and zero dollars when you buy online, and your shopping priorities should be crystal clear.

Local Impact

More money staying put in your area means more funding for your schools, roads and hospitals. Tax r­ evenue created from local purchases goes back into community improvements and new development opportunities.

In short, your money plays a major role in enhancing your daily life and the lives of those around you – depending on where you spend it.

Additionally, small-business owners are more likely to make social investments in the community by volunteering at their child’s school, donating to local charities and hosting fundraising events,

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according to The American Small Business Coalition. Doing so allows these entrepreneurs to ingrain themselves into their communities and make it known that they are sensitive to the needs of those around them.

From local music groups to youth sports teams, small-business owners are quick to offer their sponsorship and money to help support community groups. This helps create customer buy-in for business owners, as well as a reputation for genuinely caring about their communities.

Hiring Local

And since local business owners hire local workers – about half of all private sector workers are employed in small businesses, according to the Bureau of Labor – money for taxes and wages stays in the community, too.

Unemployment statistics are linked very closely to the success or failure of small businesses, which means that your infusion of shopping money can also make a positive impact on a national level. This creates a strong connection between workers and customers alike.

You’re more than just another number in the customer count when you visit a local business. Without your business, your local small-business owner would not be able to hire or retain as many local workers. From the owner down to the seasonal part-timer, all employees of small businesses depend on your support.

Shop Local, Ravalli Republic, Friday, May 30, 2014 - 11

Retail Therapy Yes, it is a real thing. Well, maybe not as defined by the American Psychiatric Association, but “retail therapy” has been shown to impact people in large-scale studies.

Most recently researched by the University of Michigan, people tend to spend more on themselves when they’re f­ eeling sad about something.

Another recent study published by Psychological Science polled dozens of volunteers in a unique way. A team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon, Harvard, Stanford and the University of Pittsburgh showed volunteers either a video clip that showed grief following a tragic death or a neutral clip from a nature show. They found that people who watched the sad video clip offered an average of 300 percent more money for the item than those who had viewed the neutral clip.

Feel Good by Going Green

“Retail Therapy” isn’t the only way that shopping locally can make you feel good. The impact you make on the environment can go a long way, too. Every dollar you spend locally decreases your carbon footprint by reducing the amount of gas and packaging required to complete the supply chain ­process.

The connection between smart shopping and sustainability is strong, especially when spending is at its peak. So whether you’re shelling out your hard-earned tax refund or Christmas shopping stockpile, don’t forget the health of the environment and the shape you want to leave it for future generations.

Less Travel = Quality Time

Buying more locally produced products can help us refine our air because it cuts down on travel for both you and d­ elivery drivers.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, trucks and locomotives are responsible for 25 percent of smog-causing pollution and the majority of the cancer threat posed by air pollution in some areas.

Staying local can lead to more quality time spent with family, too, instead of being confined inside of your car. Cleaner air AND more time

with your favorite people? By now you should be feeling all fuzzy inside about shopping locally. Now go share your positive feelings – and money – with your local business owners.

12 - Shop Local, Ravalli Republic, Friday, May 30, 2014

Local First Projects Working Independent businesses across the country have worked hard at getting their message to the masses. Message received.

Local First initiatives are boosting customer traffic on Main Street, according to a 2013 national survey of independent business owners conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance in partnership with the Advocates for Independent Business.

With 550 member businesses, Local First is the largest organization supporting and advocating for locally owned companies in the Midwest.

The survey – gathered from 2,602 independent businesses – also found that smallbusiness owners need policymakers to do more to create a level playing field. Write your local congressional leaders to make your voice heard on any of the following issues you feel need to be addressed.

Among the survey’s key findings: • Strong growth: Independent businesses reported revenue growth of 5.3 percent on average in 2013.

• Buy Local: More than 75 percent of businesses located in cities with active Local First campaigns reported increased customer

traffic. They also reported sales growth of 7 p­ ercent on average in 2013, compared to 2.3 percent for independent businesses in places without such an initiative.

• Roadblocks: Competition from large internet companies, unbalanced supplier pricing and the high cost of health insurance are a few of the chief concerns identified by small-business owners, according to the s­ urvey.

• Policy priorities: Many small-business owners are continually pushing the requirement to collect sales tax to large online retailers, as the survey confirmed. Eliminating public subsidies and tax breaks for big companies would go a long way toward balancing the scales in

the eyes of many independent retailers.

• Internet sales tax: More than three-quarters of independent retailers said in the survey that the fact that many online companies are not required to collect sales tax had hurt their sales. More than 40 percent of these respondents described the level of impact to their sales as “significant.”

Access to credit: In the past two years, 42 percent of small business loan applicants failed to obtain a loan or received one for less than the amount they needed.

Shop Local, Ravalli Republic, Friday, May 30, 2014 - 13

Better Deals Found Locally Shopping for a great deal? Ditch the keyboard for your car and head on down to your favorite local business. Shopping locally, you tend to buy just what you need.

This helps cut down on the extra purchases and additional “stuff” you don’t really have a use for. Keeping local owners in business also f­ osters a competitive entrepreneurial environment that will improve quality in the long run, decrease costs and rejuvenate our precious downtowns.

Growth for All

As local businesses grow, so does their ability to create more products and improve their service, all at less expense to the consumer. This can mean growth for the business, as well as for your wallet.

In many cases, you can find the same product at your local store for the same price as the big box, saving you time and money.

Ripple Effect

Small-business owners have a tendency to buy supplies locally and use local services for their business needs. When an independent business owner needs a v­ ehicle maintained or a ­haircut, he or she is more likely to spend money on local s­ ervices, according to The American Small Business Coalition.

This means your money actually touches many of the local businesses in your area one by one, helping enhance your economy for years to come.

Deals, Deals, Deals

Local shops are focused less on the mega deals that ­actually can cost you more in the long run.

But this doesn’t mean they aren’t in the b­ usiness of giving deals.

Many independent retailers provide discounts to those who live nearby, helping you save money instead of paying more in tourist taxes that some out-of-town establishments may charge.

Some local businesses boast price-matching programs, as well. Ask your local owners if they are willing to match deals you find at other businesses. Their answer may surprise you – and help you save money.

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14 - Shop Local, Ravalli Republic, Friday, May 30, 2014

No Pressure on Customers For local businesses, it’s all about the customer experience. This means friendly attitudes and a focus on you, not your dollars. You aren’t likely to find quota-driven salespeople around every corner at your local independent business.

That’s because small-business owners depend on your repeat business. If they scare you off the first time you visit their store, they also scare off future revenue.

Positive Experience

Local business owners treat you with respect and kindness because they need your support. Your money keeps their dreams alive, their families fed and their lights on. It also helps fuel their creativity and passion. Without innovation and a love for their business, independent retailers don’t have much of chance to succeed in the highly competitive fight for your dollar.

Conversation

Local owners are quick to talk with you and ask about your life because they are genuinely interested in learning about their customers. Gaining a better understating of their target audience helps owners improve their services, which, in turn, boosts their bottom line.

Conversation can be extra helpful if you’re trying to complete a home improvement project. One trip to your local hardware store can often be less time-consuming and more informative than one to a big box operation.

Real People

If you have a question for your local business owner, odds are you can track them down on the phone with one or two calls. And you can bet you’ll actually hear a human voice when you make your call.

Finding courteous assistance without having to punch through a hoard of automated “please holds?” What a novel concept.

Small-business owners understand that customer service means sustained business. They are willing to make themselves available to help you work through any inquiries or product issues you are having. So pick up your phone and give them a call. They’re waiting to assist you.

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Merchants Have Holiday Spirit Take a look at the shelves of your local boutique business. See anything that would make a great gift? Odds are, yes. From locally produced jams and jellies to unique arts and crafts, local shops are brimming with creativity – and great presents.

Valentine’s Day

Have a sweetheart who loves to g­ arden? February is a great month to start laying the groundwork for this year’s flowers, vegetables, fruits and trees. Take your love to your local ­gardening shop for handy tools and beautiful plants, as well as expert advice on planting seasons.

Birthdays

If any of your friends’ or family members’ birthdays fall in April, Record Store Day may be right up their alley. The nationwide celebration of your local indie record store has become a popular annual event chock-full of great promotions and even greater camaraderie. And as any record fan knows, sometimes a band just sounds better on vinyl.

Father’s and Mother’s Day

Tourism opportunities most likely dot your local landscape in the form of cabins or bed and breakfasts. Why not treat mom or dad to a relaxing experience?

Staying local for short trips such as these takes away the long travel associated with many getaways, allowing more time for mom and dad to spend quality time together.

Halloween

Many downtown establishments open their doors for Halloween, i­nviting the neighborhood children to come get their fill of candy in a safe, friendly environment. Parents can have the peace of mind of their ­children enjoying trick-or-treating, while they do a little window ­shopping for themselves or others.

Christmas

The biggest push to shop local comes around Christmas time every year – on the last Saturday of November to be exact. Spearheaded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday has rapidly entrenched itself into the holiday shopping tradition landscape.

The nationally recognized movement to celebrate and shop small businesses was created as a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and annually attracts 100 million local-focused shoppers.

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