Letter to the Editor

Be loyal, buy local

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

"Buy Local" campaigns are common, especially around the holidays, and on the increase. Often organized by chambers of commerce, the idea is to convince consumers to spend their money in their hometowns, versus leaving town to shop at big box retailers.

According to an Institute for Local Self-Reliance survey, independent businesses in cities with an active "buy local" campaign fared better than those in cities without a push for localism.

The survey gathered data from 2,768 independent service providers, restaurants and retailers, finding that those in places with a "buy local" initiative reported revenue growth of 5.6 percent on average in 2010, compared to 2.1 percent for those without.

Among independent retailers there was a similar gap in holiday sales performance, with those in "buy local" communities seeing a 5.2 percent increase in holiday sales, while those elsewhere reported an average gain of 0.8 percent.

"Buy Local" campaigns also benefit local grocers. And research at the Center for Rural Affairs (see http://www.cfra.org/renewrural/grocery) demonstrates that helping rural communities retain their local grocery is crucial. Grocery stores provide vital sources of nutrition, jobs, tax revenue and other intangibles that support the community.

They are, however, slowly disappearing. At least 803 counties in the U.S. are classified as "food deserts" where half the population of the county lives ten or more miles from a full service grocery, forcing residents to leave their communities to purchase food.

The T-shirts and bumper stickers that tell us to "think globally, act locally" offer sound advice, especially in rural America.

John Crabtree

Center for Rural Affairs

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  • InterNet sales, catalogue sales and sales out of our area hurt the local economy and now we have current data to support that fact. Our local businesses provide jobs for ourselves, our family and our friends. They are the ones that give to our local charities,churches and pay the taxes that support the local governmental services. When we Buy Locally we not only help the store where we bought from, we help ourselves. Buy Locally!

    -- Posted by dennis on Tue, Mar 15, 2011, at 8:02 PM
  • *

    Stop shopping at Wal-Mart. Local business needs to do more internet based advertising, and let customers know they can order in about anything they need in just days. Sad thing is most people refuse to wait.

    -- Posted by cplcac on Wed, Mar 16, 2011, at 2:57 AM
  • Gee Dennis what about an internet based business here in McCook. This isolationist theory you support is scary. Maybe you should look in the mirror. Did the city only use local business to design and eventually build the new city center? Heck no. Did the MEDC use all local contractors to build the Keystone? NO. Why? Because those services don't exist here at a competitive rate. Quit trying to manage the economy you communist and let the free market work. I guess that the business that I own and sells very little to the local McCook population is bad for the other local communities that I sell into. I wonder is there is a "Dennis" in those communities that hate me as much as you hate outside businesses selling into McCook.

    The biggest hurt is to the precious 1.5% sales tax revenue and therefore the city has less money to spend on non relevant things. By the way how is that juggernaut of a project called the Keystone creating jobs now? I guess that now the construction is done that will be about all the economic activity it might generate. Nice.

    Yeah stop shopping at Wal-Mart. What a crock. Just kill the golden goose to the city sales tax. A majority of the city sales tax comes from there goods and services and that is the fairest way to make the rest of SW NE pay for the city pipe dreams.

    -- Posted by sleeper on Wed, Mar 16, 2011, at 6:47 AM
  • I have no problem waiting on orders, I refuse to give my money to a business that doesn't maintain a certain standard of customer service. Sadly many of our local business owners and their businesses have terrible customer service levels, frankly in my experience Walmart's customer service consistently blows em away. This isn't a buying advantage, its a service/pride advantage. Not all local businesses have this problem, but the ones that do I will continue to avoid, I don't care how local they "claim" to be.

    -- Posted by Bruce Baker on Wed, Mar 16, 2011, at 9:01 AM
  • Every local business throughout our history is here because someone saw a need and filled it. Some have adapted to changing times and some have fallen victim to changing times. When the telephone was invented, I'm sure there were people worried about this same thing because people would have easier access to outside businesses and hurt local business. This concern is no different than what has existed for years. The only thing different is the technology. Back then the telephone was revolutionary now it's the internet that's revolutionary and eventually something else will come along and the issue will repeat itself once more. It's amazing how we keep bringing up the same old issues generation after generation.

    -- Posted by McCook1 on Wed, Mar 16, 2011, at 1:18 PM
  • My family lives outside of Mccook, but shop for all our food and many suplies at Walmart. We spend aprox $20,000.00 at our Mccook Walmart each year! They make me feel welcome in there store, they are eager to help me, some of them even know me by name. I do not shop there because they are the cheepest, I shop there because of there attitude toward me. It is not enough to just be a local store anymore, you have to show your customers they are King!! Woo me. I have no use for a buisness that does not make me feel welcome, I will happily take my money elsware!

    -- Posted by Jcee on Wed, Mar 16, 2011, at 1:49 PM
  • Hmmm, if no one shopped at Wal-Mart, how many people would be out of work? Has any notice how much Wal-Mart DONATES? they also provide their employees (many many employees) with a fair wage and benefits.

    -- Posted by mccookie on Wed, Mar 16, 2011, at 2:58 PM
  • isnt walmart outside the city limit and not charghing a city sales tax?

    -- Posted by president obama on Wed, Mar 16, 2011, at 10:37 PM
  • *

    Wal-Mart National Corporation has over 7300 stores / units world wide. Here's what gets me. Wal-Mart Net Profit (Taxable) ranges right around 13 billion per year out of a total of around 90 Billion Yet, Wal-Mart Corporation proudly proclaims they have donated $5 million dollars to Japan for relief. (.00042%) of Net Profit. Way to go Juggernauts, pat on the back. So every one out there that sends a $20 dollar bill out of your $40k per year, you just out did walmart by nearly 20%.

    -- Posted by cplcac on Sat, Mar 19, 2011, at 1:53 AM
  • Most of downtown McCook still operates under the assumption this is still the 1950's. Housewives do the shopping during the 10:00am to 4:00pm hours, with the entire family going out on Thursday evenings. And lets not forget the prices, if you can't afford local, you can't afford it. The internet offers us a worldwide market, some one somewhere will fulfil our needs.

    -- Posted by Hugh Jassle on Sat, Mar 19, 2011, at 6:15 PM
  • *

    cplcac,

    take a gander, you are right walmarts is the debbil!

    http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/2010-08-08-corporate-philanthropy-intera...

    Feel free to bash wal-mart. Just make sure you are doing it for valid reasons.

    -- Posted by Sir Didymus on Sun, Mar 20, 2011, at 12:30 AM
  • To answer your question bigdawg, NO. WalMart is not outside the city limits and they do collect city sales tax. When WalMart wanted to move to the current location it was annexed into the city limits. Do you not remember the public outrage against the city for "forcing" a business into city limits.

    -- Posted by deacon71 on Mon, Mar 21, 2011, at 8:58 AM
  • thanks for the answer deacon.

    -- Posted by president obama on Mon, Mar 21, 2011, at 1:06 PM
  • I try to buy local, I have supported local auto dealers for over 40 years, never have bought one "out of town". This does not mean I do not check out of town prices first, before going local. I figure if they are close, I will buy local. BUT.

    Recently I had a project and checked "out of town" prices, and then went to a local store.

    I was quoted prices that were over $300 over the out of towner's prices. Well I tried, but even after using $30 worth of gas (before the big spike)to drive "out of town", I was able to get all the materials I needed, bought an extra $150 worth of other things, and kept $120 in my checking account.

    Time for some of the local businesses to wise up.

    I did not expect the local outfit to match every price, but to be $300 more on what cost me $500 out of town, is just a little too much.

    -- Posted by goarmy67 on Mon, Mar 21, 2011, at 8:02 PM
  • To begin with, Wal-Mart is local. The store is local, which is to say that it's in town. 2nd, it pays back to the community through taxes and payroll as well as utilities. The issue that people take with Wal-Mart is that it's a giant, and face it..... a majority of the money that goes into the store is shipped elsewhere. That being said.... Wal-Mart is far better than the internet companies that are out there, so far as local economic impact is concerned. Perhaps you don't care about the local economic impact of our City and those that neighbor us but keep this in mind.... I watch the comments pretty close and those of you that claim to not give an ounce of worth to the local businesses had better not be complaining about how bad off we are when taxes go up... guess what, that comes from not spending monies locally folks, and I will certainly call you out on that.

    In my eyes, local isn't just the town you live in, it's the communities in the region. We support each other and we thrive. Order online and you might feed a family of Chinese that are quite frankly chuckling at night about how America is going down the tubes.

    Whether you believe it or not, doesn't matter, the money spent close to home ends up back in your pocket. Money spent on line, and I repeat this because it is important that you know that a majority of online companies right now are based abroad, the money spent on line often is shipped out of the country and then we wonder why China owns Mt. Rushmore. We traded it for their plastic trinkets.

    And by the way...., shopping at Wal-Mart on line.... that adds nothing to your community either.

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Wed, Mar 23, 2011, at 7:10 PM
  • *

    ochosinco,

    Of course I have donated my $20 dollars. No need to be rude, and or, tell people to shut up. I am stating an opinion. Sorry it took so long to respond.

    Doesn't anyone find it odd that a company can pay taxes on only 13.6% of their total income?

    So that would make my taxable income approximately $6000 dollars. That would be wonderful. Thing is the small fry is expected to keep everything afloat. That is a pretty large burdon.

    Sir didymus,

    I stand corrected, Wal-Mart seems to donate a good amount world wide. Thank you for the insight. I was not looking at the whole picture when I placed my opinion earlier. I was set back by the numbers.

    A few of the reasons I dislike Wal-Mart.

    Wal-Mart enters a town and drives all other small business into the ground with their unbelievable prices, and price matching. Then when all other competition is gone, and Wal-Mart has become the sole dependent of 70k people area wide, they drive the prices back up to unbelievable amounts. We out here in the small rural areas are paying for the discounted goods at Wal-Marts in populated areas that actually have competition.

    Customer service level of Wal-Mart is poor. On more ocassions then I can mention I have receieved extremely poor service from cashiers, management, service department, as well as electronics, automotive, and produce areas. By way of poor attitude, poor acknoledgement, unprofessional conduct, rudeness, lack of knowledge and experience in area of sale, etc. etc. Not to mention the fact that 90% of the time, there are not enough employees on duty to service the multitude of customers in and out of the store daily.

    Wal-Mart has been allowed to become too large. Wal-Mart can force producing commercial companies to change their product and produce sub-par product so they can be sold at discounted Wal-Mart prices, you can see this within nearly any department in Wal-Mart.

    I agree with you Nick , Wal-Mart has brought taxable revenue in for the city, as well as using utilities, and does employ a fair amount of people. I'm just not sure if they are paying those individuals enough to put them over the poverty level, and out of the "social burden redzone". I am unsure of this, so please correct me, but I do not believe Wal-Mart supplies health care for their employees either.

    Overall I am unhappy with Wal-Mart.

    -- Posted by cplcac on Thu, Mar 24, 2011, at 4:53 AM
  • No.... I'm sure they aren't paying many even as much as full time, whereas other local grocers, clothing stores, tire shops, and hardware stores certainly do, + overtime. You know.... Those little things that allow one to support a family rather than simply support themselves...... BUT, that's better than sending it abroad.

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Thu, Mar 24, 2011, at 10:59 PM
  • Why is it that in the food deserts, no local person starts a grocery store?

    Maybe if the McCook tried to grow the number of businesses people would shop there. Not just the locals but actually come from out of town.

    I wonder if Internet sales help the places the online business is located. I would assume yes. Since the internet is worldwide and on 24/7/365, why is there no strong online retailer in McCook? Can't say its location, no one gives a **** where an online retailer is, as long as they provide good service.

    There's HUGE potential online to start a business, make money, hire employees, make more money ect. Yet, I try to buy something online from McCook that I can't find here in Valparaiso, Indiana I'm lucky if the business has a website.

    What about items not found in McCook? sure you can buy clothes in McCook, is the brand or style you want? not always.

    If there has to be a campaign to buy local, then maybe the local business is doing something wrong. Maybe its no the people that choose to go elsewhere, but instead the business isn't providing the best value.

    Instead of saying "buy local". Say "How do we improve our services to get people to stay here?"

    Why not start trying to figure out what services are missing in town and trying to attract the businesses and talent to fill those voids?

    Again, if people are willing to drive 2-4 hours to go shopping, then something is missing in McCook. Rather its a business McCook already has that isn't providing a good enough value, or a businesses that's not located in town.

    Then again in a town that you have to fight tooth and nail to get anything changed and has a decline population, I guess getting someone to move into town is easier thought of then done.

    -- Posted by npwinder on Thu, Mar 24, 2011, at 11:45 PM
  • IF stores in McCook want the consumers business on the bricks why then are 95% of the parking spaces on the streets being taken by the employers and workers of theses busines'es who are clamering shop here first. How is a person suppose to do any shoping with those parking stalls full with employers and employees all day long. I agree with Jcee there is no customer sevice for the consumer in down town McCook

    -- Posted by g-man on Fri, Mar 25, 2011, at 6:45 PM
  • G.... Wrong. You throw out unsubstantiated statistics. 95%? Really, where did you get that number from? MNB employees don't park in front, Sport Shop either, Sehnerts, Knowlen & Yates, Top Office, Key Stone Businesses, El Puerto all in back, (Keystone back & side) just to name a few, some even walk or ride their bikes. 95%? Blah blah blah, its people like you that stir the pot. People read that then repeat it. Just the facts folks, you really don't make a valid point unless you use valid facts. Why cause further issues? Who benefits from that?

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Sat, Mar 26, 2011, at 12:00 PM
  • maybe you should spend some time downtown watching who parks where and for how long you would'nt have so much to say. the bricks are all of downtown mccook's shopping area not just norris what a macroon

    -- Posted by g-man on Mon, Mar 28, 2011, at 2:42 PM
  • 95%..... That's a bold statement. Where did you say you got your statistics then? I missed that part or your response.

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Mon, Mar 28, 2011, at 3:22 PM
  • For one, i am impressed with the amount of traffic the new resturant El Puerto generates along with Shenerts and now we have a new entry to the market. Hope they do well. This has to genterate business in the other shops up and down the street, can't be nothing but good for downtown McCook.

    -- Posted by Fundin on Mon, Mar 28, 2011, at 4:41 PM
  • in the very first sentence of my response spend sometime downtown not hard to see if your looking for it but then again if your eyes only go as far as your nose?????????????????????? theres also a 2 hr parking limit in all of the downtown shopping area thats west 1st, norris, east 1st, but who pays any attention to that either.

    -- Posted by g-man on Mon, Mar 28, 2011, at 7:35 PM
  • So to be clear..... You got your 95% statistics number by watching who parks in front of the businesses and for how long they remain in those parking spots? I stand corrected, your research is outstanding! For an individual to put forth the effort to research what each businesses employee drives, accounts for not only their parking spot but the duration of their parking stint, then factors that data into the percentage to set forth for all to see certainly deserves to be heard..... Or in this case read. And to think that you did all this research on foot as there were NO parking places available to you.... Good work! And to think that I accused you of pulling numbers out of thin air.... I really am a "macroon".

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Mon, Mar 28, 2011, at 8:25 PM
  • your sarcasm only shows how little a person you are goes to show the typical mind set of quite a few mccookites in this town.

    -- Posted by g-man on Tue, Mar 29, 2011, at 4:18 PM
  • Sarcasm aside, my initial point was that throwing out unsubstantiated facts aren't truly facts and its not a fair representation laid out in the media for all to read and possibly be swayed by. Politicians use that style of tactics and you know what they say about politicians. (That's a stereotype, but the image serves the purpose..... My apologies)

    Don't make matter of fact claims where there is little fact..... My Point.

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Tue, Mar 29, 2011, at 7:04 PM
  • my facts arent just thrown out there I told you how I got them and you have done nothing but belittle my findings.Nor have you proven my facts wrong by any means. So I reason that you are one of those people who violate said parking rules 2hr parking in the entire shopping area of the bricks from A st to E st North & West 1 st to East 1st and I am done wasting my time with your insignificant rantings

    -- Posted by g-man on Wed, Mar 30, 2011, at 3:38 PM
  • G.... Wrong, I neither work in the downtown area nor park there for reasons other than shopping the bricks. In reality, I have indeed referenced the businesses that don't tie up parking and to be sure, those businesses account for well over 5% of the downtown employees which certainly outnumber the parking spaces, so contrary to your claim that 95% of the parking spaces are taken up by employers / employees is in fact bogus and NO you haven't given any hard facts of how you developed your statistics other than state:

    "maybe you should spend some time downtown watching who parks where and for how long you would'nt have so much to say. the bricks are all of downtown mccook's shopping area not just norris what a macroon"

    So if I have done nothing else with my posts other than tire your efforts to the result of you making no further comments.... Then I have, at the very least, reduced the falsehoods being presented.

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Wed, Mar 30, 2011, at 11:24 PM
  • The next time you need a donation for your banquet, prom or other fundraiser give those internet businesses or the 'out of towners' a call. I'll bet they will pony something right up.

    -- Posted by swnefarmer on Fri, Apr 1, 2011, at 1:33 PM
  • These internet patrons never seem to think of what local businesses give back. Its all about what makes them happy right now. And its those people that complain that the local business don't contribute...... Its tough to donate when people don't spend money with them.

    Good point SW!

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Fri, Apr 1, 2011, at 7:20 PM
  • It's also really hard to shop at downtown when A)They don't have what you want, B) The prices are a lot higher than you can get the item for otherwise, or C) the service is bad.

    If people are willing to drive 2-4 hours or wait 2-14 days for an item they ordered online to arrive, then something is wrong the businesses downtown, not with the customers.

    Instead of saying "You should shop downtown and not out of town those out of town businesses don't support McCook or the high school or whatever else"

    We should be asking "why are people leaving to shop elsewhere? What do those other places have that McCook doesn't? and How can I fill the need?"

    You get people to shop Downtown McCook by filling needs, not by demanding it.

    -- Posted by npwinder on Sat, Apr 2, 2011, at 9:23 PM
  • *

    To propel np's point a little further...maybe the local merchants could come up with a new slogan...and then live up to it.

    Something like "Shop McCook, We have what you want at a competitive price...or we'll quickly get it for you!"

    I'm sure it could be worded more clever and eloquent...but it's an idea worth batting around.

    -- Posted by Mickel on Mon, Apr 4, 2011, at 10:08 AM
  • Good point as well np. So, now that we have identified the possible issues, the next step would be to seek solutions to rectify those issues, otherwise these are just a collection word on a page, agreed?

    I would like to find a solution to these issues so I will surge forward and talk to the Chamber of Commerce regarding a downtown suggestion poll, hopefully to be posted in the McCook Gazette, to find out what suggestions might be made to increase the "quality" of products and services that the McCook Downtown Businesses might work off of.

    The reason I was so adamant about the parking, is that I don't see such a thing in the downtown area, and to pursue an issue that truly isn't an issue is a waste of time and resources. I can't say that some businesses don't utilize out front parking, but the majority do not.... To improve on problematic issues, we must first, correctly identify the issues, therefore its imperative that the public becomes involved in a proactive manner for the good of all rather than just wish to cast stones to vent frustrations.

    Keep in mind, however, that price is often times not an alterable item... Down town businesses are often times specialty shops that have a much higher overhead than a non stock 1 room office that takes orders over the phone, takes your money, orders the product from the manufacturer, and has it drop shipped directly to you without ever having to see, touch, or have any general knowledge of the products that they are selling you. Sometimes you just have to pay a bit more to keep your town alive, its called community involvement and that door swings both ways. In the end, you may be helping more than just the retailer, you might be keeping more of your US Dollar in the US.

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Mon, Apr 4, 2011, at 10:36 AM
  • "Shop McCook, We gotcha covered."

    Nick, I always expect downtown prices to be higher. There is a limit as to how high you can go though.

    There's other ways to compete. Have it now vs. driving a few hours or waiting 14 days. friendly service. Dennis always points out Service after the sale. Trying to build relationships with customers (using social media is a way of doing this). Maybe find ways to add value, small tokens of appreciation ect.

    I always liked the business that spent the money on a website to have it updated. If they can do an online store even better (attracts outside sales)

    Price is one way to compete. It doesn't need to be lower, but it does need to be fair. There does need to be other advantages to overcome though.

    If you want to talk about what McCook is lacking how about choices for clothes?

    While High school bands are well taken care of, I know a band that needed a bass amp a couple weeks ago and had to goto Kearney to get it.

    How about Consumer electronics?

    Those are a few things of the top of my head missing.

    -- Posted by npwinder on Mon, Apr 4, 2011, at 5:38 PM
  • I think that in this day and age, anyone NOT using the current technology is missing the boat. The web is a relatively inexpensive media and truly one of the most effective sources of advertising if a business is set up properly. Actually a town like McCook could excel in the e-commerce field, as someone previously mentioned. Low cost area, good work ethics, and the ability to ship goods is an excellent combination for a business plan. It would certainly be a boost to an existing business's portfolio. It would also serve as a way to import money. And who knows, if a business could increase their sales then perhaps they might fall into a better price margin on their products and offer better consumer prices.

    Its definitely worth a shot for any retailer.

    It seems like there was a push for such a thing in McCook in the not so distant past, perhaps the timing wasn't right at that time, but hundreds of millions of e-retailers can't be wrong. A good suggestion to be sure.

    Nick

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Tue, Apr 5, 2011, at 5:49 PM
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