Shopping locally saves money, helps community
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

..............L-N Photo by Brenda Sommer Full Cart Wal-Mart workers Trisha Martin, left, and Dawn Wagner, far right, stopped Tuesday to admire Aundrea Hudspeth and her 4-month-old twins Keygan, front, and Kinsey Hawkins. Aundrea said she shops locally for holiday gifts, but when she does so, she brings a friend along since her cart is already full.

If you're joining the mad dash to find this year's hot gift, like digital picture frames or other must-have electronics, it's important to your town that you shop in El Campo.

"When you shop locally, all the sales tax dollars go back into our community, to help with improvements throughout our city for all of us to enjoy," said Becca Socha, president of the El Campo Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. "It's said every dollar spent in our community circulates seven times around in helping someone else."

Though El Campo may not have everything a shopper could desire, she said, it never hurts to ask.

"We realize not all items can be found here, but please let our store owners know what you're looking for," Socha said. "They may have it after all, or be able to order it for you, and that gives El Campo the opportunity first."

She also wanted shoppers to remember just who comes through when it comes to supporting the myriad community activities in which residents are involved.

"All these dollars are a reminder that these local businesses are the ones who contribute back, to scholarships, fund-raisers, to most of the things done in our community," Socha said. "Most things like this are done by our local community businesses and not by out-of-town companies."

A University of Nebraska at Lincoln study showed several other beliefs rural people have about the importance of shopping in one's own community. They are:

• Local retailers really know their loyal customers. Many consumers indicate that quality customer service is what they like most about shopping locally. They like "the hometown feeling," "the friendly atmosphere," "dealing with friends," "knowing who you are doing business with," "that they care about the customer" and "being called by your name."

• Local retailers are uniquely able to provide service to their local customers. . Knowing what the customer needs and being able to explain how to use those products to the customer are unique services provided by local businesses.

• A healthy retail sector is attractive to new industry. Empty store fronts are a sign of a crippled retail sector, and a turn-off for economic growth.

• A healthy retail sector saves consumers' economic ......................resources. When consumers don't spend money on fuel to drive to distant shopping destinations, more money is available to spend locally.

For example, if the cost of operating an automobile is $.37 per mile, the cost of a 25-mile trip is $.37 x 25 x 2 or $18.50. Since gasoline prices have skyrocketed this year, that cost is even higher.