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Benefits of Shopping Locally
Article submitted by Berrien County Community Development Dept
 Shopping Locally
Keeps Towns Alive and Vibrant
Why shop local?
Shopping locally keeps your favorite Southwest
Michigan shops in business and supports the overall local
economy. That's good news for all of Southwest Michigan as we
strive to develop a climate in which businesses can create jobs and
operate at a profit.
Shopping Locally Can:
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Increase the tax base. This translates
into infrastructure projects such as water treatment, sewer drainage
systems, utilities, libraries, recreation centers, open space, parks,
and road improvements, Police, Fire and EMS. An ever-improving quality
of life and safer Michigan communities with these services combined
with the added employment from providing such important services.
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Creates a more diversified job base with a
higher wage structure -- essential for a decent quality of life,
providing a stable labor force for the retail/service sector.
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Receive more attentive, personal service.
The overall message is to take pride in your
community -- by spending within Southwest Michigan.
As the saying goes: "Use it or lose it." If
we, as a community, fail to actively support our local businesses, they
may go out of business and thereby reduce the tax base and increase the
unemployment rate. This ultimately will have a negative impact on
our entire community and can lessen our quality of life.
Bolstering the local economy is perhaps more
important than ever this year in light of the budget shortfalls
recently announced in many of our communities as well as at the State
level.
Ideas To Help People Shop Locally
Shopping breaks down into 3 factors: Price, Selection and
Convenience. Making sure that you, as the merchant, address these 3
factors can improve your competitiveness.
Areas of Focus:
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Promote a day to "Shop in Southwest Michigan"
for area residents to realize how important the local retailers are.
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Encourage referrals from local businesses to
other local businesses.
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Business-to-business transactions can spur
future retail/commercial growth.
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Develop a community spirit where residents are
proud to call Southwest Michigan "Home".
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Merchants should know who their clients are -
the age and demographics. Typically longtime residents have many
social and business relationships that will affect their shopping
behavior. Consumers who have a high level of involvement with
friends and acquaintances or who are active in community organizations
are more likely to shop locally.
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Appeal to the social side of business -- offer a
free trinket or candy, even coffee to shoppers. These seemingly
small steps can put customers at ease, making them feel comfortable
spending their hard-earned dollars at your business.
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Keep items current. Identify slow moving
items and mark them down to make way for new inventory.
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Provide improved customer service by showing
expertise and knowledge about the products carried.
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Contribute time, money or talent to local
organizations. People appreciate this and will want to thank you
by shopping in your store. They drive on the same streets as you
do and send their children to the same schools. Lead by example.
Studies have shown that residents do shop locally at
least once a week for essential items, such as gas, milk, and bread,
things that people use on a daily basis.
Excuses to Shop Elsewhere:
What it Really Costs
to Shop Outside Southwest Michigan:
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Wear and tear on your vehicle.
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Cost of fuel.
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Time -- if you have children who are active in
sports or extracurricular activities there is no time to travel 45+
minutes, often each way, to shop outside your local community.
The Holiday Season Challenge
The holiday season, for many local merchants, is the
time they count on most for their annual profits. When making
your gift list, for all of your friends and family that you buy gifts,
challenge yourself to shop within Southwest Michigan -- exclusively,
this year. I bet that you will be amazed by the small amount of
names, if any, that are left to shop for when the holidays approach
thanks to the many diverse, locally owned, businesses here in
Michigan's Great Southwest.
Berrien County offers an abundant number of small
and emerging businesses that provide quality products, personal
attention, and excellent service.
For Additional Information
To learn more about the benefits and the importance
of shopping locally:
Berrien County Community Development Dept
701 Main Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085
Office: (269) 983-7111 ext. 8617
Website: http://www.berriencounty.org/
E-mail: jarent@berriencounty.org
Are you looking for business, commercial, farming, or recreational links to Southwest Michigan? Then you've come to the right place: Southwest Michigan Business & Tourism Directory! "From Accommodations to Yacht Clubs,
Southwest Michigan has much to offer." Blessed with many business and tourist attractions, Southwest Michigan is the ideal vacation destination to enjoy art, boating, golf, nature, swimming as well as a wonderful area to call "Home". The communities of SW Michigan have much to offer; businesses, schools, and services that are first class. In fact, Smart Money Magazine once named SW Michigan (specifically the Paw Paw Lakes region) as one of the best areas in America to buy a second home. Residents are friendly, warm and enthusiastically welcome newcomers to the area. If you are visiting Southwest Michigan ... we wish you a safe, enjoyable stay and hope that you come again. If you are planning to join us ... we welcome you and know that you will enjoy the area as much as we do. To those of you who already live and work in SW Michigan ... aren't we lucky? Thank you for your interest in Southwest Michigan! | 
