Shop Local First,
Shop Storm Lake
Shopping local, it's a key to business success and community
vitality in Storm Lake.
Why? And what difference does it make if I shop local?
Shopping in your local stores makes a huge difference! When you shop
local, you invest in your community, in your neighbors and in yourselves.
For every dollar that you spend in Storm Lake, twice as much will be reinvested
back into Storm Lake by a local store than shopping out of town.
For the next two months, we will be sharing our ideas on why
our community should Shop Storm Lake. To begin we outline the top ten
reasons to Shop Storm Lake first. In future weeks, we'll be explaining
each reason in detail to show all the benefits of Shopping Storm Lake first.
Top 10 Reasons to Shop Storm Lake:
- Buy
Local to Support Yourself & Your Community - Studies show that when you buy
from a locally owned business, significantly more of your money is used to make
purchases from other Storm Lake businesses and service providers, continuing to
strengthen our local community. Shopping Storm Lake helps grow other
Storm Lake businesses as well as the Storm Lake tax base
- Get
Better Service - Local businesses hire people with a better understanding of
the products they are selling, take more time to get to know and understand the
products, and most importantly, they take the time to get to know you, the
customer, to serve you better.
- Keep
Community Character - Where we shop, where we eat, and where we have fun all
make Storm Lake our home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral
part of the distinct character in Storm Lake. Our tourism businesses also
benefit. When people go on vacation, they seek out fun, enjoyable and
unique destinations.
- Invest
in the Community - Storm Lake businesses are owned by people who live in Storm
Lake. They are less likely to leave and more invested in Storm Lake's
future.
- Nonprofits
Receive Greater Support - Nonprofit organizations receive the majority of
support from local business owners. Most receive zero support from out of town
businesses.
- Be
Friendly to Your Environment - Locally owned businesses can make more local
purchases requiring less transportation. Shopping Storm Lake also saves
you gas money, miles on your vehicle and creates less of a carbon
footprint.
- Local
Businesses Create More Jobs - Local businesses are the largest employer
nationally. In Storm Lake, they provide many quality jobs to our
residents.
- Public
Benefits Far Outweigh Public Cost and Tax Dollars - Local businesses require
comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of
public services when entering the community.
- Competition
and Diversity Leads to More Choices - A marketplace of tens of thousands of
small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices for the
long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based
on their own interests and the needs of their local customers guarantees a much
broader range of product choices.
- Encourages
Future Investment in Storm Lake - A growing body of economic research shows
that entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in
communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive
character.
Are you wondering how you can make a difference by Shopping
Storm Lake and supporting our local community? First of all, make it a
priority to find and patronize a local business, wherever and whenever
possible. Next, dine and shop at local restaurants and shops to enjoy
unique and personal shopping and dining experiences.
Local businesses are making a commitment to you, the
customer, to make it easier for you to shop local. Many businesses are
committing to be "Gr8 Till 8" (Great Till 8:00pm), which means they are staying
open till 8:00pm on Thursday nights to make it easy for customers to shop at
their convenience after work. Take advantage of this opportunity to shop
local!
When you shop online or outside of Storm Lake, not a dime is
contributed back to our local community. Before you shop out of town, check
your local stores to find the same products. When shopping Storm Lake,
look for the Storm Lake United Member window clings or a Gr8 till 8
Poster. These businesses have made a huge investment by investing in
Storm Lake and Storm Lake United.
Now, it's time to share your new found knowledge on Shopping
Storm Lake. Spread the word! Tell your co-workers, friends, and
family why they should Shop Storm Lake first. We all create our
communities. Let's continue to create a strong, vibrant Storm Lake for current
residents and visitors to enjoy and create a legacy for generations to follow.
Remember, Shop Local First, Shop Storm Lake! To find
local businesses and to learn more about Shopping Storm Lake, go to
VisitStormLake.com.