Tara’s Takes
Did that headline catch your attention? I had a different column in mind this week, but recent events have made me change my mind. I am also writing this with Per’s voice in my head. He’s the more level headed, doesn’t react emotionally often. But sometimes you need to let emotions fly.
Last week, after watching the odometer click past the 237,000-mile marker and with the realization of the miles we put on with four locations, we said goodbye to our black beauty of a work van a purchased something new. Not new, new, but new to us.
I’m still getting used to it as of this writing; I haven’t figured out how to connect my phone. Or have my kids do it. That will have to be done before delivery Wednesday night so I can listen to my book as I drive.
Here’s the thing about our van. We didn’t go shopping for a van. We didn’t drive to Sioux Falls and kick some tires. We didn’t leave town. The reason was simple: Shop local. We ask businesses to support us every week with a subscription or advertising. Without it, we would not be here.
When we need something, we do the same. We went directly to Jeff Salmon and said, we want to look at this van. If it wasn’t what we wanted, we could have told Jeff what we were looking for and he would have went hunting.
After driving it and coming to an agreement, we told him the blinker was out on the passenger side. Not a problem, they’d take care of it. When doing that work, they noticed something else that needed to be repaired.
They didn’t just fix the blinker and turn the other way. No. It was a phone call from Jeff to tell us they found something, they are fixing it and they’ll let us know when it is ready so we can finish the deal.
That is local. That is doing business with those who live in our communities.
Could I have gotten a “better deal” somewhere else? I don’t think I could have. And I know for sure I wouldn’t have the service because I see Jeff every week.
On the same note, I had a customer in telling me they were in a local business and overheard an employee complaining about how expensive our price was for an office supply compared to being able to get it online. I don’t know where they shopped online, if it was the same quality or anything. This employee wasn’t venting their frustrations on our prices to that customer. They were telling someone else in the store so loudly that this customer could hear it.
We are not the cheapest on every product. We understand that. We don’t buy in bulk. We are not a big box store. We are a locallyowned business just like the majority of businesses in our community.
We do try to have products our customers need when they need them. We try to give locally and we try to support locally. Those big box stores and online suppliers are not the ones supporting your local community events, donating to non-profits or stepping up when a volunteer is needed. Your local business owners and employees are.
Now, I’m not saying I never shop out of town or buy online. We all do. However, if I do need to purchase something outside of one of the many local businesses I support, I am not shouting it to the rooftops about how expensive local is. If we all did that, we wouldn’t even have local businesses.
I don’t hold the business owner responsible. We all have employees who may say or do something we’d like handled in a different way.
That’s part of business ownership for sure.
I will say, as I’ve worked in our other three communities the last three months, the business owners there are constantly talking up each other. They are so very proud of every business in their community. They band together because they want success for every one of them.
It’s time we bring that to Tracy. Graduation is just around the corner. Need to tackle a paint project, go to Midwest Supply or Tracy Builders Supply. Have a baby shower coming up, go see Mrs. Fultz at Tattle Tales. Spring cleaning and need to wash all that bedding or the curtains that have been collecting dust all winter, see Uptown Laundry. Need a pick-me-up before you tackle those Saturday morning chores, Squatch Coffee and Eats has what you need. There are many, many more that I could go on about. Honestly, if you don’t leave town, you’ll probably stick to your list better and spend even less.
No matter where you decide to shop — keep it local, or keep it to yourself. Business owners are working tirelessly to keep their business thriving as well as the community they serve. A little support goes a long ways.
