KCR_Best of the Fox 2024_062024

At the Record Newspapers, our mission is to serve our communities and make them better places to live.

We’re not alone. Local businesses and our loyal readers play an important role in our communities. In April, we allowed our readers to select their favorite businesses in the 2024 Kendall County area Best of the Fox contest.

These are the best of the best according to you, our readers. We’re pleased to present this year’s Kendall County area Best of the Fox winners, and we look forward to doing it all again next year.

The mechanics at our shop have OVER 50 YEARS of experience between them. They are dedicated to providing high-quality repairs with parts from reputable brands to keep you safe.

Whether you’re coming in for a routine inspection or a repair service, we promise that you will have a stress-free experience and be completely satisfied with our work.

DINING&DRINKING

DINING&DRINKING

DINING&DRINKING

MASSAGE

Best Bodywork by Mandy

One of the Best Spine & Sports Chiropractic Why Knot Massage?

NAIL SALON

Best Adri’s Nail Studio

One of the Best MedFoot Spa Venus Nails

ORTHODONTIST

Best Kay Orthodontics

One of the Best Prairie View Orthodontics - Oswego Thomas Orthodontics

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Best

Foot & Ankle Centers

One of the Best Spine & Sports Chiropractic Castle Orthopaedics

PODIATRIST

Best

Foot & Ankle Centers Dr. Paul Bishop and Dr. Thomas Rappette

One of the Best Fox River Foot & Ankle Center Fox Valley Orthopedics Physical Therapy

RETIREMENT HOME / ASSIST. LIVING

Best

Cedarhurst Of Yorkville

One of the Best Heritage Woods of Yorkville The Reserve at Oswego

SKIN CARE

(ESTHETICS, DERMATOLOGY ETC.)

Best

Harmony Aesthetics LLC

One of the Best Ilana Aesthetics Skin 101

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

LAWYER / LAW FIRM

Best

The Wash House

One of the Best Signature Cleaners

Tide Cleaners

FUNERAL SERVICES

Best

Dunn Family Funeral Home with Crematory

One of the Best Nelson Funeral Homes

Turner-Eighner Funeral Home

INSURANCE AGENCY

Best

Farmers Insurance - Ryan Watson

One of the Best

John S Janovyak Agency Inc.

American Family Insurance

Chris Heitz - COUNTRY Financial Agent

Best

The Law Office of Aaron J. Vanagaitis

One of the Best Gateville Law Firm

Krentz, Salfisberg & Swanson Haggard P.C.

MORTGAGE BROKER

Best Autumn Stark, FNBO

One of the Best

Beth Gottlieb - Caliber Home Loans

Jocelyn Retz - Mortgage Loan Officer

NON-PROFIT / PHILANTHROPIC GROUP

Best 3:11 Project

One of the Best Caring Hands Thrift Shop

Grace Holistic Center for Education

How communities benefit when consumers shop local

Ideas about shopping are never set in stone, and the pandemic illustrated just how quickly consumer trends and opinions can change. Many individuals are now reevaluating how they spend their hard-earned money, particularly since inflation has affected just how far a dollar can be stretched. When consumers think about which stores to patronize, locally owned businesses may be the smartest option for a number of reasons — not the least of which is the way such enterprises benefit the communities they call home.

More money kept in the community

Shopping locally means that more money will stay in the community. According to recent research from Civic Economics, local eateries return nearly 79 percent of revenue to the community, compared to just over 30 percent for chain restaurants. Overall, for every $100 spent at a local business, around $73 remains in the community, verus roughly $43 when shopping at a non-locally owned business.

Get a personal touch

Local business owners typically are inclined to go the extra mile for their customers and are personally invested in the services and products they are selling. As a result, shopping locally tends to be a personalized experience. Furthermore, a local business owner may be more amenable to ordering products for specific clientele. Such personalized service is typically not accessible when shopping big box stores or other shops where owners are off-site.

Lines are short

Waiting in long lines for checkout or to pick up merchandise ordered online can drain consumers’ energy and contribute to stress. Local businesses tend to have short lines and small crowds, which can lead to a more pleasant shopping experience.

Generates tax revenue

Local businesses generate more tax revenue per sales dollar, according to Rubicon, a digital marketplace for waste and recycling businesses. Taxes paid by

local small businesses go to support schools, parks, roads, and other programs that benefit the community as well.

Support nonprofits

Local businesses often support good work in the community, such as nonprofit groups. These can include schools and sports teams, among other groups. According to Dr. Sue Lynn Sasser, professor of economics at the University of Central Oklahoma, studies indicate nonprofits “receive 250 percent more support from small businesses than larger ones.”

Support other local businesses

Local business support other local businesses by buying and selling among each other. A local, independently owned restaurant may source its ingredients from local farms, which means visitors to such eateries are supporting multiple local businesses each time they dine out.

Small businesses are a boon to the economy, particularly local economies. These enterprises help their communities in a multitude of ways.

GYMNASTICS/ CHEER CENTER

Best

Premier Gymnastics Academy West

One of the Best Spirit Cheerleading Your Performing Arts Center - Dance, Music, Cheer, Gymnastics, TheatreYorkville Downtown

LIVE MUSIC VENUE

Best

Suzy’s Bar & Grill

One of the Best The Law Office Pub & Music Hall Southbank Original Barbecue

MARTIAL ARTS

Best Dojo Dynamics

One of the Best AXT Jiu-Jitsu Taekwondo Korea Center

PILATES/YOGA STUDIO

Best

Prairie View Pilates

One of the Best Sense of Samadhi Living Divina Yoga

VIDEO GAMING

Best

Rosati’s Pizza Pub

One of the Best Suzy’s Bar & Grill Fox Republic Brewing Co.

How to cut back on your big box habit

Big box retailers are ubiquitous. The appeal of such stores’ extensive inventory is undeniable, and consumers like the comfort of knowing they can stop into a big box store anywhere on the map and feel a sense of familiarity with their surroundings.

Despite that feeling of familiarity, consumers who shop exclusively at big box retailers are missing out on what small businesses have to offer. Though it may be impossible to avoid big box retailers entirely, now is a great time to see what small businesses have to offer. Here’s a few ways consumers can reduce their reliance on big box retailers.

Start gradually

A gradual separation from big box retailers will likely prove easier than quitting cold turkey. Try replacing one big box trip each week with a visit to a locally owned small business. Brand loyalty to a local business can be built up from there.

Take steps to become a more active community consumer

Serving on a community’s commerce commission or a similar agency helps consumers learn about the small businesses that are coming to town or already established. A greater awareness of shopping options could mean a greater propensity for stopping in and shopping these stores rather than the chain alternatives.

Increase in-person shopping

It’s tempting to simply shop online and order something from one of the national chains that can afford to ship items straight to your home. However, small retailers tend to have more unique offerings and boast pleasant shopping experiences. Plus, in-person shopping allows consumers to get a real feel for a product, which can save them the time and effort it takes to return things that don’t fit or aren’t quite right. Many small businesses now offer their own e-commerce options, where a shopper can buy an item online and then pick it up in the store or curbside to save time.

Consumers have grown accustomed to shopping at big box retailers. But kicking that habit and patronizing small local businesses can benefit consumers and communities alike.

ADVERTISER INDEX