Livin La Vida Local
I recently discovered through Facebook that the bakery we visited daily on our way home from school in the 60’s is closing after 53 years in business.
This is just another reminder that the local business is an endangered species.
Who’s to blame? We are. Lured in by the promise of lower prices, consumers flock to corporate-run, well here I would say retailers, but corporate ownership invades every aspect of our lives. Have you tried to find a doctor in private practice?
We don’t have to sit back and let this happen. According to an April 29, 2015, blog post on the Wilmington Chamber Website, “Wilmington Ranks as Second Best City in U.S. to Start a Business”, knocked out of first by Boulder, Colorado.
So what can you do? Live local. Local home sales rose 28% in June, the biggest jump in our area in nine years. There will be new residents in this group, let your new neighbor know about the local businesses in your area. Another way to live local is to shop local and ask your local purveyor to price match if their price is higher. If your local shop doesn’t carry an item you want, ask them to order it for you. We can make a difference if we show local businesses that we will support them. Let’s keep our existing local businesses in business and encourage those who are chasing the American dream of owning their own business to open it here.
Looking for local? Just a sampling of local businesses:
On Facebook: Buylocalilm
Wilmington NC Locally Owned Businesses
On the web: Wilmingtonchamber.org
www.feastdowneast.org/supportingrestaurants.html
http://www.tidalcreek.coop
http://www.portcityproduce.com
bluemoongiftshops.com
http://www.jfountaintire.com
This article appeared in the August edition of Livin' Out Loud magazine.