Shopping local win-win for everyone
Buying local also means better service for customers and creates employment
There’s a lot to be said for shopping local, which can be truly unique experiences in the many coastal communities along Nova Scotia’s South Shore.
“I feel the character of our local communities are largely defined by our small local businesses and local services and very much by our local social enterprise organizations,” says Dixie Redmond executive director of Cbdc-shelburne, who is a big supporter and fan of shopping local.
Redmond said there are lots of reasons to shop local. “Our local businesses use local resources, employ local people and are supporters of our valuable local non-profit and charitable organizations.”
Barrington Place Jewellers is a prime example of one of the many community-minded, locally owned businesses on the South Shore. Started in 1991, it has been owned by John Shaar and his wife Sandra since 1997. The couple are involved in the community in many ways, including supporting the Barrington Area Soccer Association (BASA) since it was formed in 2004 by Shaar and four other volunteers. More than 300 children now play in BASA.
“Most of the businesses here are supportive of local organizations and groups and contribute back to the community,” said Shaar, such as supporting local fundraisers and community events and volunteering their time.
“By shopping local, you’re helping those people stay in business,” said Shaar. “Most of our business is local, probably over 80 per cent from the immediate area. We rely mostly on local people. Our tourist business is very minimal compared to other places.”
Buying local also means better service for customers and creates employment; helping to support the local economy, said Shaar.
Shopping local doesn’t mean you can’t shop online. Take
Sport Chek in Bridgewater, for example. “Even though we’re a national company, we can still help customers be local and stay close,” said manager Jennifer Milbury.
“Shopping local always is important, especially in rural areas. I think it’s very important for smaller businesses,” said Milbury. “For us, being more of a national company, we want to represent well to head office. A lot of customers do like to shop local and do come into the store. With online shopping and all the other avenues that are out there now, we try and tie those in and do in-store online, so if a customer is looking for a specific product and if we don’t have it, we can get it and send it directly to the customer’s home — no shipping charges — and then they don’t have to make the drive to the city or another store to get the product that they’re looking for.”
Milbury said it’s important for people to shop locally as much as possible. “We employ almost 30 people from all areas of the South Shore.” Milbury also added that employees range in age from 16 to 62. “Shopping locally allows 30 people to be employed and a business to stay in town.”