 Across America, downtowns in small cities are dwindling in the
number of retailers who can afford to keep their doors open.
Over the years there has been a lot of finger-pointing as to who
is to blame for this. Some pin it on the big box stores, others
voice resentment toward outlet malls and shopping centers, but
consider this: America's downtowns are failing because we don't shop
there when we could.
The city of Lincoln is blessed in that we have Ace Hardware, Big
R, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Goody's, Walmart and
many other businesses where we can shop for a wide variety of
merchandise in a variety of price ranges designed to fit the needs
of most any household budget.
As a community we should support those stores for a variety of
reasons. They offer job opportunities to our citizens, they collect
sales tax revenues that are used for the daily operations of our
city and our county, and they provide convenience in that we really
don't need to leave town to find most anything we might need or
want.
Lincoln is also blessed in that we have a downtown area that is
much more productive than many of the other communities throughout
the country. The reason is that we have dedicated shop owners who do
everything they can to provide products and services that you are
interested in.
Another reason is that there are some who do shop downtown, and
to those we say, "Kudos to you for supporting your local small
businesses."
But for those who may not, we simply ask, Why not? With stores
like Prairie Years, Abe's Carmelcorn, Action Rentals and Sales, Now &
Then books, Cherished Memories, Beans & Such, Three Roses,
Serendipity Stitches, Treasure Chest, Owl's Roost books, MKS
Jewelers and Mary Todd Hallmark, all of whom offer excellent quality
products in a wide variety of price ranges, isn't there more than a
good chance that you could find gifts for everyone on this year's
Christmas list right there on the square?
The downtown area is also host to hair and nail salons, day spas
such as Absolute Harmony, a top-notch photographer in Brickey's,
excellent thrift stores, and if you plan to redo a room before the
holidays, don't forget Sherwin-Williams.
In addition to all this, we challenge you to work your way from
the square outward and take a look at all the businesses you may
find along the way, because there are literally too many to name,
and they are all there to serve you.
Barbara Wold, author and business strategist, recently wrote an
article for the national Main Street organization newsletter that
touched on five important reasons for shopping downtown.
Here are some abbreviated excerpts from that piece that we hope
will give you something to think about as you plan your shopping
trips this year.
Here are the top five reasons to support a small business on
Small Business Saturday:
Buying local
creates jobs.
As the old saying goes, everyone talks about the weather, but nobody
does anything about it. Well, the same could be said for jobs. We
all want more jobs, but no one seems to be able to create them.
Half of all employees in the U.S. work for small business. Small
businesses create 60 percent of all new jobs. By participating in
Small Business Saturday (and small business Sunday through Friday
too), you foster job creation in a very real and tangible way.
Small business
fosters community.
What is a community, anyway? It is a group of people with something
in common. When a downtown has a bustling small business district,
it is usually said there is a strong community there, and
conversely, when there are too many empty storefronts, it is bad for
the community.
By buying local and supporting your neighborhood small businesses,
you are fostering a strong community.
[to top of second column] |
 Buying
local keeps the dream alive.
A small business is someone's dream. It takes a lot of courage to
leave the security of a 9-to-5 job and venture out on one's own.
Being an entrepreneur is a risky enterprise that usually happens
when someone's passion is so overpowering they cannot help but start
their own business.
By supporting small business, you are allowing someone to live the
dream another day.
Buying local boosts
your local economy.
There is an economic ripple effect that occurs when you support a
small business.
There are the employees with money in their pocket; they spend that
money with other small businesses. Moreover, there is the business
owner with profit in (his/her) pocket (who) spends that on buying
more goods to sell, taking care of (a) family and on growing the
business. That business pays taxes, which helps build roads and fund
schools and the police.
Buying local creates an economic cycle that helps everyone.
Buying local
creates a ripple in society.
Think about throwing a pebble into a still pond. It creates a
concentric circle that starts small and then ripples out bigger and
bigger, right? Well, that is exactly what happens when you support a
local small business, and this ripple is different than the economic
ripple. This is a spiritual/psychological ripple.
When a small business person succeeds, it is noticed. It may be a
child who sees that dad didn't have such a kooky idea after all and
that dreams do come true. Or it may be the entrepreneur's neighbor,
who sees the successes and decides that he could do it too.
The ripple grows.
We hope that as you prepare to do your Christmas shopping you
will give thought to these five points, and take a good look at
everyone who is running a small business in Lincoln and Logan
County. They are all dedicated to what they do, and they all
appreciate your patronage.
On Saturday several downtown businesses will offer special items
on sale or special storewide discounts.
Here is just a sample of what you might find if you make your way
to the downtown area on Small Business Saturday:
-
Abe's --
special in-store discounts on select items
-
Action Rentals
and Sales -- 20 percent discount storewide
-
Beans & Such
-- 20 percent off Brooch notepads
-
Mary Todd
Hallmark -- special in-store discounts on select items
-
MKS Jewelers
-- Star and Snowflake discounts on select items
-
Serendipity
Stitches and Custom Framing -- 20 percent off custom frames
ordered on that day
-
The Treasure Chest -- 10 percent
off on all ornaments
[By NILA SMITH]
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