Why Do YOU Buy/Eat/Drink/Whatever Local???
Here at AIBA, we're all about Buy LOCAL - it's on the web site, our bumper stickers, and postcards you may have received lately. And, it's the right thing to do, for many reasons - not the least being it keeps more dollars in the local economy, which helps all of us (and lessens our dependency on out-of-state companies.) But, being the "right thing to do" can also sound rather boring...so, here's one of the main reasons I Buy Local - it's more fun, pure and simple.
For example: I Drink Local (One of my recent blog posts about drinks at Cervantes wonderful "bar bar.")
I also had a wonderful staycation earlier this summer, doing pretty much nothing here in the city. (FYI - museums are free on Sunday morning.)
Josh Gentry at Southwest Cyberport is blogging on Buy LOCAL as well - Stimulate Your Neighbor. (Tag line: Shopping Local is Selfish, Greedy and Fun.) In his last post, he asks, "I know that there are lots of local folks with online stores, whether it be their own website with shopping cart, or a Cafe Press store, and so on. But how to find them?"
Good question. For you AIBA members, you can add the info to your directory info and also post in the member forum.
Now, why do YOU buy local? How does that match (or not) with why your customers buy local (and from you?)
- email:
- info@keepitquerque.org
- phone:
- 505-710-6484
- fax:
- 505-343-0287
- address:
- P.O. Box 91891, Albuquerque, NM 87109
Comments
Because we need each other
Jeri's Cafe is a little family owned restaurant in the PineTree Corporate Center , 4725 Indian School Rd NE # 200. I started eating there for pragmatic reasons. I didn't drive to work and I needed a place for lunch that I could walk to. There weren't many options. I needed them, because there was no one else providing food I could easily walk to. I was delighted to find that the food was good, fresh, and affordable. I kept going back. All the people who work there are part of Jeri's family, and over time we've become friends. I know Jeri's husband and children, they know my wife and son. When I go there I get more than food, I get to see people I know and care about. I get community. And it works for them. They've had some trouble keeping open recently because of a very ill family member. It's something that can happen to small, family business. Even though its occassionaly frustrtating that they aren't open, I keep going back. Because I care.
I have this live Greg Brown CD, and he's talking to the audience and he's saying basically that you can't manufacture community. You get community when people need each other. I can't "need" a corporation, because I can't count on them to be there for me. As a result, I'm not there for them, either. No loyalty. No community.
That's pretty rambling and I'm not sure I made my point. Bascially, one of the reasons I shop local is that those people need me, and I need them.
Another reason to buy local
Mary makes a good point about BUYING LOCAL... it is the right thing to do, but it's much more than that. How about, IT FEELS GOOD. I like visiting with local merchants about their business and their ups and downs. I like hearing what other businesses are doing to stay afloat during these difficult times. I like hearing about all the "fighters" out their who are working harder and longer to survive. I like when I go into my favorite Mexican restaurant and they know what I am going to order. It makes me feel special. So, to reiterate her point - BUYING LOCAL is much more than just the right thing to do. IT FEELS GOOD also...what a bonus!