Shop Local and Support Your Community With Kim

HYANNIS, Mass. - Dec. 3, 2014 - PRLog -- It’s that time of year again, when gift giving hits its peak and shoppers head out to the malls – or to the Internet – to find the perfect presents for friends and loved ones. With big box stores popping up on every corner and large-scale franchises replacing small businesses, it’s easy to get swept up in the convenience of running out to a Target or Wal-Mart to find whatever is on your holiday gift list.

But what about the “little guy?” The small establishments, sometimes run for generations by the same family, and often the cornerstones of small town shopping? The local drug store, the funky independent bookstore, the corner coffee shop where you get the friendliest, most personalized service around?

Part of the Cape’s charm resides in its unique local businesses, from restaurants and pubs to shops and galleries. Sure, we have our share of the larger chains, but vacationers don’t visit the Cape to dine at McDonald’s. And neither should locals spend all their money at national chains when there is so much to be found in local establishments.

It’s happening everywhere in our country; small business is becoming an endangered species. Smaller, independently-run stores don’t always have the large-scale presence to offer the same kind of inventory and deals that some of the larger chains can afford. But they provide so much for our communities, from the freshest local ingredients at restaurants and farm stands to merchandise unique to New England – and often crafted locally.

When local small businesses thrive, so do our communities, with increased tax revenue and more local jobs. They provide competition to national brands and tend to cater more specifically to the communities in which they are located. When the owner of the local five-and-dime or bakery knows his clientele, the public has a say in getting the goods that it wants rather than relying on the national game plan of a big chain. And with a true stake in the local community, small businesses tend to be more likely to donate to community causes.

Let’s face it: with the demise or small, often longstanding businesses like soda counters, diners, and boutique stores, communities grow apart. Local businesses used to be the places where people in town would run into their friends and neighbors, and everyone would know everyone else. The owners, with a direct stake in the community, offered a level of customer service that isn’t important to a big business’s bottom line.

So this holiday season, let’s dedicate at least a portion of our shopping lists to some local businesses. Not only will we be supporting a disappearing way of life, we’ll help keep the Cape’s charm and individuality intact for the foreseeable future.

Happy holidays!

Would you like to know more? Visit www.Baysiderealtyconsultants.com for additional information.