By now most of the turkey hangover, should be…well…over. It is Black Friday, which kicks off a stressed-induced weekend of shopping. The Avenue, The Hub, Old Greenwich, Riverside, Byram, and everywhere in between will be bustling with eager and anxious shoppers.
Today begins a 36-day frantic, sometimes panicky, dash until the end of the year. It is not just the shopping. Everyone wants to celebrate this time of year. There are parties, dinners, and luncheons to attend. All of which can induce anxiety and frayed nerves. Add to the mix in-laws and relatives coming to visit. So, today can feel like we are at the starting line of a downhill race that gets faster every year. We are not ready to go there. We will be – but not just yet.
The switch from fall and Thanksgiving to the Holiday season is a little too abrupt for us. We want to take a moment and enjoy the weekend a bit more before stepping to the starting line of the holidays.
As for the shopping, we hope everyone will make an extra effort to purchase their holiday items from Greenwich stores. It is good for our economy, and it is good for our community.
Buying local and supporting small businesses is at the core of our local economy and is an important part of what makes Greenwich, well… Greenwich. If we did not have stores such as Sophia’s, McArdle’s, Dogwood Books, and many others, the feel of our community would be very different indeed.
One of the great things about having a community paper is the opportunity to really get to know our local business community. It is diverse. From financial services to real estate, to the local Mom & Pop stores; they all work in tandem to ensure our local economy keeps chugging along. Our retail businesses and restaurants are the heartbeat of that economic engine. It is important we support them.
Did you know that for every $100 you spend in a local business $68 remains in the community in the form of taxes and ancillary spending? This is a good thing because it enriches the entire business community, gives people jobs and is even good for the environment. When you buy local you tend to develop a relationship with those establishments you frequent which leads to better customer service and experience. We have all been frustrated by calling an 800 number to return a poorly purchased item, been transferred four times only to give up and re-gift the item for someone’s birthday.
When you purchase an item online, it may be quicker, but it does nothing to help the local economy. Shopping locally also has the benefit raising property values. Vibrant neighborhood shopping areas like Cos Cob are an advantage when selling your home because it makes your home more valuable. It also strengthens our community. Local businesses are often owned by people who live in our town, go to our churches and synagogues, and coach little league teams. When we shop locally, we are supporting our neighbors.
Local businesses also give a community its personality. You can visit almost any town in the country and find a McDonald’s that sells the same burger you can get at the McDonald’s here in Greenwich, but nowhere else will you get a scallop salad as good as at CREW restaurant. You can order from Amazon, but if you want to ensure you little ballerina’s Pointe Shoes fit properly visit Beam & Barre. The combined presence of our town’s many local businesses makes Greenwich different from every other town, not just in the country, but in the world. By supporting local businesses, you are ensuring that uniqueness is preserved as part of our community. And it’s not just the retail and restaurants. Visiting weekly Farmer’s Markets is a great way to support agriculture in our state and get fresh, locally grown produce. Does your child want green eggs? You cannot get them at a supermarket, but you can at a farmer’s market.
This holiday season we hope you will think local and buy local. Happy hometown shopping.
