Why Buy Local? Supporting your community equals a lifetime of benefits

1
Why Buy Local? Supporting your community equals
a lifetime of benefits
Reid Office Supply
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Economic ImpactMoney spent with Walker County
businesses stays inWalker County

• For every 100 dollars spent at a local business,
  as much as 68 stays in the local economy,
  compared to 43 when the same amount is spent at
  a chain store.
• Andersonville Study of Retail Economics

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Economic ImpactEvery dollar spent locally will
turnover 5-7 more times in our economy, based
upon the national average
Dollars spent with local businesses (68 on first
100)
198
Dollars spent with chain stores (43 on first
100)
125
THE BUCK STAYS HERE Dollars invested with local
independently owned businesses earn a
significantly higher rate of community return 58
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Economic Impact

• Local businesses provide a strong foundation for
  the community - taxes, fees, and other
  assessments
• These fees support public services, education,
  parks, and other essential community programs
• Chain stores are often granted tax subsidies and
  other preferential treatment that reduce their
  contributions to the local community

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Job Creation

• Buying Local Creates and Sustains Jobs
• Small businesses are the largest employer
  nationally and provide the most new jobs to local
  residents
• A chain store may create new jobs, but numerous
  studies indicate they displace more than one job
  for each job created

6
Freedom of Choice

• Our freedom of choice is greatly diminished
  without a vibrant local business community
• Even though a big chain outlet may have a broad
  product offering, a number of independent
  businesses create greater diversity and options

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Social Impact

• Non-profit organizations receive an average 250
  greater support from local business owners than
  they do from non-locally owned businesses
• When you shop local, youre supporting the
  businesses that support local churches, schools,
  charities, youth groups, sports programs and more

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Community Character

• Supporting local independent businesses preserves
  the character and uniqueness of the community
• It encourages entrepreneurial spirit which
  attracts new commerce and creates new jobs

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Why Shop Local?

• Local Businesses
• Keep more money in our community
• Contribute more to the local tax base
• Create more jobs
• Ensure choices and foster competition
• Support local charities and community causes
• Preserve what makes our community special

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What Were Doing

• Among others, a portion of our profits are shared
  with
• Covenant House for Homeless Youth
• Star of Hope for Houstons Homeless
• KSBJ 89.3 Radio Ministry
• We are members of
• Huntsville-Walker Co. Chamber of Commerce
• Livingston-Polk Co. Chamber of Commerce
• Preferred Partners

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Sources

• Thinking Outside the Box A Report on Independent
  Merchants and the Local Economy, Sept 2009
• Local Works Examining the Impact of Local
  Business on the West Michigan Economy, Sept 2008
• Procurement Matters The Economic Impact of Local
  Suppliers, Nov 2007
• The San Francisco Retail Diversity Study, May
  2007
• Job Creation or Destruction? Labor-Market Effects
  of Wal-Mart Expansion, University of Missouri,
  Feb 2005
• The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics, Oct
  2004
• The Economic Impact of Locally Owned Businesses
  vs. Chains A Case Study in Midcoast Maine, Sept
  2003

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Why Buy Local? Supporting your community equals
a lifetime of benefits
Reid Office Supply