Shopping locally helps merchants, all of us

I’m sure everyone has heard that every dollar spent locally gets recirculated seven more times before it absconds from our community and, in many cases, falls into the deep pockets of large corporations.

I heard that economic theory, and trusted it somewhat blindly, while living in larger cities where everything sort of blends together and makes trends difficult to spot without indexing. But here in Libby and Troy, we don’t need statistics to understand the communal benefits of shopping local – we can see, feel, hear and taste economic trends without the assistance of studies.

One business owner in downtown Libby outlined the shop-local concept brilliantly one day while explaining his decision to heavily promote Libby’s annual Open House shopping event that was held Nov. 16.

The business owner told me that he didn’t expect to sell many items during the event, but he figured promoting it would help other business owners make more money, which they could then spend at his shop later. He said his sales rise and fall with the local economy, and his business is brisk when others are doing well.

Truly, that’s not rocket science. But I was surprised to hear it out loud, nonetheless. After all, some business owners in Libby turn green with envy and bitterness when they see a competitor, or even a non-competitive rival, succeed at anything.

Despite the natural inclination to fight for every dollar, it’s been proven repeatedly that businesses working together toward a common goal create more prosperity for each other than businesses working separately toward the same goal. The evidence is both statistical and anecdotal.

That doesn’t mean we should all stop being competitive. Absolutely not. But it does mean we should try to work together as much as possible on any initiative that we can find some common ground. The Open House event was one example of businesses working together, and this year the event drew far more shoppers into local stores than ever before, according to the organizers.

This year has not been particularly prosperous for many business owners. There were layoffs at the Troy Mine. There was the closure of Stinger Welding’s facility. There were several other businesses that closed their doors after decades of success.

But if we stick together and do what’s right for the community as a whole, we’ll greatly improve our chances of emerging from our economic challenges as stronger individuals than we were before. That is something the people of Libby and Troy have proven repeatedly during the years – no statistics required.

When you spend money at a local business, that business has more money to spend on salaries and new inventory. That business owner now has more money to eat out at a local restaurant, buy a new set of tires from a local supplier, purchase an extra cappuccino from a local coffee shop, etc.

That money just keeps going back and forth, enriching all of us at some point, until someone takes that wad of cash and goes shopping in Spokane or Missoula. At that point, the money starts making the rounds somewhere else, and stops benefiting our communities.

So, please consider local businesses when you begin your Black Friday shopping spree this week. Some things, admittedly, you just can’t buy in Libby or Troy. But there are a lot of really cool, unconventional gifts that you can find right around the corner.

Everyone gets haircuts. Give them a gift certificate for a local barbershop or salon.

Everyone eats food. Give them a gift certificate for a local restaurant.

Every teenager wants a car stereo. Give them an audio component from a local retailer.

Every mom is tired of cleaning the house. Hire a local cleaning service.

Not everyone works out. But they should. Give them a gym membership.

Whether you are a student of statistics or a person who needs to see things with their own eyes, shopping locally makes a lot of sense. Even if that new flat-screen TV costs a couple of extra bucks, that’s a couple of extra bucks invested in your community rather than someone else’s.

(Matt Bunk is publisher of The Western News.)