SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES

“Support Local Businesses”

I am a strong advocate of “Buy American”. I know this is pretty hard with certain products and almost impossible with others.

I buy shirts from a boutique store that only carries American made shirts and almost everything in the store is American made. I pay more than I would in other so called mainstream stories, but I see it as my responsibility.

I am constantly promoting and referring businesses with the same philosophy and they continue to refer me and my business as a result.

The same thing holds true for buying locally, whenever possible. We patronize a local lumber company. We are not the average client, as we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. We can always find American made products. In a year time period, we may make 5% less, but I’m willing to give up some profit, for doing what we believe is better for this country.

How about you, what are you doing to support local businesses and “Buy American”?

Successful, Local Businesses Could Increase Home Value: Study

Before moving toward home renovations to increase value, Independent We Stand, a national small business organization, has another suggestion: Support local, independently-owned businesses in the neighborhood.

“Independent business truly is the lifeblood of the American economy,” Bill Brunelle, of Independent We Stand, said in a release.

A recent study conducted by American Express OPEN reported that home values in neighborhoods with strong, independent retail districts grew at a much

faster rate over a 14-year period than those without.

From this information, Independent We Stand created a home value calculator online to help homeowners determine the value increase of their homes if they were located next to successful, locally owned, independent businesses.

“In Detroit, a city particularly hard-hit by the economic recession, the average home value would have increased 47 percent from 1997 to 2011 if it had been located near a successful independent business district,” Brunelle said. “Studies continue to prove that buying local whenever possible improves the economy – from the neighborhood level up.”

The calculator works in conjunction with Independent We Stand’s economic impact calculator that simulates the impact of a family that spends at least $10 a month on a locally owned business instead of a national chain. Both are a part of the organization’s campaign to educate the population about the benefits of owning and supporting local businesses.

They also support local business by offering free online advertising to independent business owners, as well as resources to find local businesses in the area.

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image 2: digitalart/freedigitalphotos.net