As consumers embark on one of the most biggest shopping holiday weekends, from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, it is estimated that the average consumer will spend upwards of $738, according to author Jonathan McCormick on the Rieva’s SmallBizDaily site.
Small businesses make a portion of that total. Local business owners stress the importance of shopping locally.
Mandy Osterfeld, owner of The Fun Company, Home of Education Station, Tanger’s Furniture and Native Coffee Co., all of Bellefontaine, said this holiday shopping weekend is a big one for The Fun Company.
On Saturday Melissa and Doug, high-quality wooden toys, will be 25 percent off. Large playables will also be 25 percent off.
Osterfeld said although people are drawn to the convenience of big-box stores, it’s a hard lesson to learn that shopping local holds significant importance.
“I think our generation — I’m in my 30s now — has all experienced what happens when you don’t shop local,” Osterfeld said. “Stores we knew in our childhood are now gone … When you don’t use it you lose it we’ve learned.”
But she thinks Bellefontaine is in a good place for supporting local business.
“People care about keeping small businesses open,” she said.
For her business, it’s about catering to her customers as best as they can.
“We have all the latest and the greatest toys and we can steer people to right particular toy for that child,” Osterfeld said. “Our knowledge and personal service is something they cannot get online or in big-box stores.”
And that customer-first attitude is something Mitch Lingrell, LT’s Uniquities in West Liberty owner and West Liberty Business Association president, is most present in local businesses.
“We are all here to serve our customers needs,” he said. “You’ll get more personalized service (with us). I make a connection with every one of my customers. It’s personal. I know your name and I know what you shop for and I know what you’re interested in. It’s that personal care in who you are to better serve you.”
Another important aspect of shopping locally is that the tax dollars go back into the local economy, Lingrell added.
Brenda Moots, Indian Lake Outfitters of Indian Lake owner, agreed.
“When you buy local it stays local,” she said. “Our community will prosper because of it and we will all become more connected to our town.”
Lingrell said he always encourages people to shop local.
“At these stores every one of us as owners have chosen to hang a sign,” he said. “We chose to hang a sign on reasons that were very gated. Mine is that I grew up here — my heart is in this town. I chose the community because of what I grew up in.”
Lingrell said in order to keep a town alive, the businesses within it have to thrive.
Moots said it’s important to remember that shopping local is an effort people should make all year long.
“There’s nothing more powerful than the word of our testimony — I love to share with travelers that our business is open all year round, long after the ‘Lake Tourist Season’ is over because of the local community support during the ‘off season,’” she said.
Moots said a message about shopping local can be found near her register. It reads: “When you shop local and support your maker, you’re buying more than just an object. You’re buying many hours of failures and experimentations. You’re buying days, weeks and months of frustration and moments of pure joy. You aren’t just buying a thing, you’re buying a piece of the heart, part of the soul and a moment of someone’s life. Most importantly, you’re buying the artist or the maker more time to do something they are passionate about.”
“Our business has always been built on relationships and passion for our community,” Moots said. “That is why we do what we do and love what we do.”
Local businesses also donate both time and money to local communities, Lingrell said.
“We sponsor clubs and we support the schools,” he said. “We do that kind of stuff and big-box stores like Kohl’s and Walmart give a donation once in awhile but don’t support your kids functions. That’s a major factor in our community — that all of our businesses support our kids.”