Local First - Keeping your local economy strong

Think Local and Buy Local are ideas that we’re all hearing more and more of these days. When stores like CHELSEA and Willow Tree suggest and advertise “Local First”, many people think the idea behind it to be “support us!”. While we will always ask for support, we will also always provide a great product and service in exchange, but that’s not really what we’re saying with reference to Local First.

Our purchases are meant to get us what we want. You want a new Tommy Bahama shirt, for instance, and you have choices about where to get one. Local First asks you to prioritize your choice of purchase location so as to maximize the tool of your money to keep your local economy as strong as possible. We never ask you to buy something you like less, or to spend more for the same product. However:

1. Buy in Naples FL (for instance): ZERO of your money stays in the local economy. Ditto ON-LINE. ZERO benefit stays.
2. Buy from Macy’s up the street (for instance) : Some of your money stays local, profitability leaves the region and state.
3. Buy from CHELSEA: As much as 75% more money stays in your neck of the woods.
   
   A. We support school programs, yearbooks, local causes, etc.
   
   B. Ownership utilizes Local CPAs, graphic artists, printers, financial planners, and so forth. Ownership puts it’s money where it’s mouth is, and eats at Local restaurants, which furthers the leverage that you began with your purchasing decision. Money is directed to independent grocery stores, hardware stores, tire stores, and on and on - - - - extending leverage, and using YOUR same purchasing dollars over and over and over again in YOUR community.

When WE read things like that, we're struck by the power that a single purchase has on the health of the entire community.  We could be more casual about our passion for the concepts, butr we're in MICHIGAN, and Michigan needs to focus on EVERYTHING that can keep more money around here, helping everyone that lives and works here.  It's too important to be timid about.

Of course we want and need to be supported! Far more important is the survival and prosperity of the community in which we all live and work. Every single dollar is a tool to be utilized to maximum effect - - - or not! We ARE local, and we ARE connected to everyone in our area. We do care, and we do our best to keep our dollars circulating locally. Local First (or Think Local) asks that we ALL do the same, as often as possible. Portofino, Solero Café, Michelangelo’s, Gregorio’s, Lion’s Tigers & Beers (to name a few) - - - all locally owned, good restaurants. By choosing them over national chain stores like Olive Garden, Carraba’s, Red Lobster and so many more, you get good food AND your dollars stay local, working for YOU.

Downtowns flourish, vacancies are reduced, tax revenue for your city is preserved, and the stores you count on don’t fade away, never to be replaced. So, really: Which decision is better for YOU, financially? Emotionally?

Local First simply asks you to always consider whether you can re-invest in your community, as opposed to simply getting what you want, regardless of where. It makes a massive difference to everyone involved, including you, so get in the habit of always asking “Can I get it Locally?” And be vocal about it - - - Spread the Word! Think Local, Buy Local, BE Locall, wherever you go.