WRITTEN BY CRYSTAL SANDS
Last Thanksgiving, I forgot to order a turkey for our family’s dinner. As homesteaders, we grow much of our own, but we do not raise turkeys. I always make sure I order from a local Maine farm that raises turkeys humanely, but last year, I just forgot. In a panic the Monday before Thanksgiving, I started looking at all the local farms online, but every farm was sold out — except for one. I discovered Heartstone Farm in Charleston still had turkeys, but because I was so late, there was no way for the frozen turkey to arrive before Thanksgiving.
I decided to call the farm’s office and see if there was any way I could drive north and pick up the turkey myself, but when I called, the woman on the phone remembered me as a return customer because we buy all our beef from them. She put me on hold for a moment, and when she got back to the phone she said, “We are shipping this out to you express at no extra charge. It will be delivered to your home tomorrow, just in time for you to get it thawed out for Thanksgiving.”
I was so grateful and realized this amazing customer service was one of the many reasons I love shopping locally and one of the many reasons I think all of us should make efforts to spend our dollars as locally as we can. When we do, we make a big difference to the family who runs that business and our local economy. And, while there are many excellent reasons to shop locally, five reasons really stand out for me.
- Great customer service.
My Thanksgiving story is just one example of the excellent customer service I receive when I shop locally. Small business owners value their customers, and many times, when we purchase items from a local small business, we deal directly with the owner of the company, who appreciates our business. And, even when we work with an employee, chances are the employee is one of a handful who is closely connected to the owner. In an age where good customer service is almost impossible to find anywhere else, it is alive and well amongst Maine’s small businesses.
- Stimulate the local economy.
One of the best things about shopping locally is that we stimulate our local economy with our purchases. Rather than having our money go to a big chain store where profits are for stockholders and employees are just a number, when we shop locally, we put our money right back into our local economy. It helps businesses thrive, which, in turn, translates to better local choices for us in the long run. Additionally, the tax revenues from local purchases stay at home and support local government initiatives and resources.
- Make a personal connection.
My favorite thing about shopping locally is the friends I have made. I see my local bookseller at The Briar Patch, Gibran Graham, every few months. When his store doesn’t have what I am looking for, he orders it for me. I love the way his shop supports local authors, but shopping there goes beyond this. Graham knows our family and has watched my children grow up. He knows what they like to read and what I like to read, and his shop is such an important part of our community.
According to Graham, small stores like The Briar Patch are really hubs for the community where people come together for many reasons. “It’s really magical to see teen readers who were once toddlers at story time,” he said, “and to catch up with new adults who [we used to watch] spend afternoons after school looking for just the right book on our shelves.”
These connections are ones that can never be duplicated in big box stores, and more than we realize, these connections are important for our mental health.
- Reduce the carbon footprint.
A perk of shopping locally is that a lot of the items are sourced locally, which reduces the carbon footprint of our purchases. Transportation of goods is costly and adds to both pollution and traffic congestion. When we buy items from shops in Maine that are made in Maine, it’s a win for everyone, including the environment.
Tiller & Rye in Brewer, for example, has mastered the model of sourcing locally, and business is booming. At Tiller & Rye, foods and crafts are sourced from Maine farmers and makers, which not only reduces the carbon footprint of the food we buy but also helps keep costs down for consumers.
- Create good local jobs.
Good jobs are important for any local economy, and the more we buy from small businesses, the more likely we are to help grow good jobs. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, from 1995 to 2021, small businesses created 17.3 million net new jobs in the United States, which accounts for more than 62 percent of the total net jobs created during that time.
Shopping locally can make a big difference in so many ways, benefiting not only our community, but each of us as individuals.