How Shopping Local Will Benefit Us & The City
Over the last few years, there have been many incentives offered to anyone that wishes to start a business in the downtown core of Windsor. As most of us know, there are more alcohol establishments than anything else. People blame these types of places for the lack of shopping and service stores but, it hasn’t always been like that. When you think back to decades ago, the downtown core was opposite of what it is now. There were shopping plazas, movie theatres, family owned motels and grocery stores to name a few businesses that were available.
Of course, times change and so does the city. Today it’s all about the big box stores, fancy hotel chains and fast food chains. The big box stores for example, need an area where there is enough land to accommodate their size. They have everything you need,which in turn, greatly affects the little locally owned businesses. That left the downtown area almost abandoned other than bars and clubs. It’s not just the downtown that suffered, other neighbourhoods like Walkerville and Sandwich Towne also suffered.
We are too quick to blame the city or the people like the mayor and Councillors that run our city. Maybe we, the residents, should take some of the blame. There are many factors we don’t consider that could change the face of the city. How you ask? How about starting by shopping local!
Everything from lower taxes to a more local democracy. Local businesses are more centrally located, therefore, our roads, sewers and other maintenance required to maintain the city, by city services is less, therefore cutting costs that normally require finding money. We are the ones that suffer as it’s added to our taxes. More revenue tax per sales dollar is brought in, keeping taxes lower. As far as democracy, if you own a local business, you have more say in the development and shaping of the local environment and your community. You are creating more jobs, a closer relationship with customers and can accommodate their needs better. Most of all, it creates a more social network that any piece of technology can create. It brings people and businesses closer together and to work together.
Personal businesses give the community it’s own distinct character. The health of the community and it’s residents is increased and determined by the vitality of locally owned shops and services. You are going to get more personal service and better quality service by building relationships with entrepreneurs.
An independent business returns more money back into the economy than a chain store would, quite a bit more! This in turn creates revenue for the locals to continue to carry more local products and to continue to operate farms that carry much of what we eat and drink. Local businesses are more likely to give back to the community by giving to charities, community events and schools. This makes a huge financial impact to a community.
In the end, it is how we spend our money that determines the state of our local economy. There is something for everyone that is locally sourced and not shipped from the other side of the world. We are often convinced that shopping in local shops is more expensive. Is it really less expensive to cross the border or head out of town to shop? Consider you spend money on gas and car maintenance, perhaps duty if you go to the States and, the driving time and your personal time.
These are just a few points out of many to ponder the next time you complain about what’s lacking in Windsor, the disrepair of the city or that taxes are too high. We are a big part of the problem.
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shop local, building community, community, economy, local business, Windsor, Windsor Ontario Canada