Supporting Local Businesses

Pat and I have always tried to support local businesses whenever we can, both in our hometown and while traveling in the RV. We enjoy stopping in small-town restaurants, local bakeries, hardware stores, and general stores. Besides helping the local economy, it’s often where you find the most interesting people and unique products.

A recent outing, however, got me thinking about what it really means to “shop local.”

We live in the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities, and on this particular day we decided to take a drive through a few of Minnesota’s quaint river towns. It was one of those sunny spring days with no real agenda—just enjoying the drive and exploring places we hadn’t visited in a while.

One of our stops was an old-fashioned general store.

It was exactly the kind of place we enjoy visiting. Along with gifts and home décor, they also carried groceries and everyday necessities for the local community. I imagine many of the residents appreciate having a nearby store instead of driving twenty miles or more for a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread.

Most of the grocery prices seemed reasonable. Some were slightly higher than the big-box stores, which I expected. Smaller stores don’t have the buying power of the national chains, and convenience has value.

Then I looked at the butter and eggs.

The same brand of butter we normally buy for about $3 a pound was priced at nearly $10.

The eggs were even more surprising. Regular eggs were almost $10 a dozen, while locally produced eggs were over $10.80.

That gave me pause.

I understand paying a little more to support a local business. I also understand that small stores have higher operating costs and lower sales volume than large retailers.

But there comes a point where the difference becomes difficult to justify.

If I lived in that community, I could drive more than twenty miles to a larger grocery store, buy the same items, pay for the fuel, and still spend considerably less money.

That’s where supporting local becomes a balancing act.

I’d much rather spend my money in a locally owned business than a national chain, but I also have a budget to consider. Paying a modest premium for convenience or to support a hometown business makes sense to me. Paying three or four times the going price for everyday grocery items simply doesn’t.

The same thought applies to locally produced products.

Many people are willing to pay a little extra for locally raised foods, fresh produce, or handcrafted items, and I certainly understand why. Supporting local agriculture and small businesses is important.

The key phrase, at least for me, is “a little extra.”

Every family has to decide what fits their own budget and priorities. What one person considers a worthwhile premium may be more than another family can comfortably afford.

Supporting local businesses is something I hope we continue to do whenever we travel.

At the same time, I believe local businesses have to remain reasonably competitive if they want customers to return regularly.

Finding that balance benefits everyone.