Locally Owned Businesses?

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Do you think locally owned businesses are more committed to their communities? Why or why not?

What are the trade-offs in shopping at locally owned stores versus shopping centers that have the same large stores that are found throughout the country?

Do you have a personal philosophy when it comes to deciding where to shop?

 

[Jazzy]

Locally owned business are very committed to trying to keep their customers satisfied so they shop locally. It keeps the revenue in the community and supports their efforts. The only problem that I have found, is because of the large overhead they pay, is the prices are higher. I try the best I can to shop locally, but I've got to watch my pocketbook too. Sometimes, it make better economic sense for me to shop at a larger retail store.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I try the best I can to shop locally, but I've got to watch my pocketbook too. [/font][/size]

I am only about my pocketbook. It seems like 99% of the retail stores around here are chains with corporate headquarters somewhere else.
I do like to eat at locally owned restaurants though.

 

[DrLeftover]

All other things being equal, I prefer to deal with local businesses.

However. I will not pay significantly more for something, in one case, over double the price for a furnace filter from a local outfit than from the terrible W-store.

I will not put up with absolutely horrible service for the sake of 'shopping local'. In another store's case, NO service, when me and my wife went to a local outfit to buy flooring last year and the staff simply ignored us for about twenty minutes. Then we went to Lumber Liquidators, got IMMEDIATE knowledgeable and helpful service, and they even helped me load the packages in the van.

And I will not tolerate shoddy products from a "ma and pa" store either. We were recently looking for a bookcase for where we live now. A local furniture store had one, and I'd be afraid to put books on it because it felt like it would collapse. So we bought one from the "w-store" warehouse thing shop for about the same price that is solid wood and actually looks like an antique.

 

[nolvorite]

I would think they are since it's the only place they're doing business in...?
Those franchise stores have a selection of other towns.

 

[Jazzy]

I don't know if it's because of where I live or not but the local "ma and pa" stores around here are pretty competitive with their prices. Not all of them but most off them. They also carry 'quality' merchandise and I have never not walked into one of these stores without being asked if they could help me. There are times, however, when I have gone to the retail stores because their prices were cheaper.