Where Have All the Flowers Gone

My mother, who at 77 apparently reads the obituaries daily, has commented a few times recently that the florists must really be hurting. Nearly every obit says...."in lieu of flowers......" and then lists charities, funds, schools, etc., that the family would like to see donations made to instead of flowers.

It seems all the big grocery stores have floral shops. Not just for bouquets and cut flowers either. Some actually have people there who can make up arrangements. The grocery store I most often shop in is owned by a huge conglomerate in Holland. So that's where the bulk of their profits go.

I admit, I have grabbed flowers there a few times for Mom or my own table for a special occasion. But when I need an arrangement, I call a florist. I even have a few in my contact list in Florida and Louisiana, where I have family, that I call when I need something sent to someone down there.

So what IS happening to the local florists? Slowly going out of business, I would guess. Paul and I feel strongly that we should Think Globally, Act Locally, or in this case, Buy Locally. I've even written a couple posts about a buy local organization I belong to.

We have several friends who own small businesses, Paul's cousin and his wife actually own a flower shop. I wrote about friends who own a hardware store. I can tell you, these people are struggling. They are swimming against a tide that is most likely going to take them under. It's just a question of when.

It's a new year. One of my resolutions is to make more of an effort to shop locally.

Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk

I guess the real phrase is "You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?" I told you about my friends Chet & Nellie and the beautiful new home they just purchased. Chet owns a local hardware store. The business actually employs three generations of his family; sadly something almost unheard of today. I don't think you'll be surprised to hear that their business is struggling. The mom-and-pop-type of business is being hardest hit in this economy and thousands are going under every week.

A few months back I wrote about a buy local organization in our area called the Blackstone Valley Independent Business Alliance. Chet and Nellie have been instrumental in organizing and promoting that effort because the idea of 'buying local' could mean the continued success or failure of their business.

What else does buy local mean to Chet? It means rather than going to one of those big box home improvement stores, we go to Chet's store. What does buy local mean to us? It means we get quick and personal service when we shop. I admit when I've got all the time in the world, wandering around the aisles of one of the ginormous stores can be slightly entertaining but when I need something and can't find it or someone to help me, it drives me crazy!

One thing I'll tell you it doesn't always mean is a better price. And honestly even if it does occasionally, the few cents I'd save isn't worth it to me.

Think of it this way....the money you spend in a local hardware, paint, appliance, lighting, camera or computer store stays in your community. It goes to pay a family's mortgage, tuition, grocery bill and even better....it stays in the community when these people shop in other local businesses.

The money you spend in those big box stores certainly does pay some salaries and some local taxes but the biggest part of it goes to Georgia or Arkansas and pays the bonuses of high-paid executives who don't give a rat's butt about you or your community! Do you ever see one of those company's names on the uniform of one of your kid's teams? They seldom reinvest in the community they are located in.

I got an email from Nellie this week telling me they have purchased new furniture, appliances and central vacuum. I asked where she bought everything, and she gave me a list of local companies. Here is what Nellie wrote...."I take the service of buying local for granted because I see the service provided by Vose, but when we were actually buying and listening to the expertise of the salesmen and getting priority treatment and instant service, I appreciate it so much more. Imagine free delivery in this day with the price of gas."

Nellie and Chet are Walking the Walk not just talking the talk. We all should.


Image from Google Images

Buy Local--It's Good For You!

Spring time is Farmers' Market time. I love fresh fruits and vegetables but the produce I find in the supermarket leaves much to be desired. Most of the time the quality stinks (sometimes literally) and the prices make me swoon. So Farmer's Market season makes me smile.

I try to shop locally whenever I can. Whether from a local farmer or a local hardward store, I try to keep my money in my community. Ever need just ONE screw? Go into one of those huge home stores that sell everything from drapes to toilet plungers to seeds asking for one #8 flat head wood screw. Well, first you'll need to find someone to ASK. Good luck. And if you do find what you want, you'll have to buy a plastic box of 20 rather than the 1 or 2 you need.

Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned business, more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms -- continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community. Ever see the name of one of those huge home improvement stores on the uniforms of the local soccer team? And don't assume that buying from one of those chain stores is going to save you money either. Often you are forced into buying more than you need as in my screw example. Besides, even if you do spend a few pennies more, if the money ends up going back into your community, it's an investment, not a loss.

Having always been a proponent of buying locally, I recently joined the Blackstone Valley Independent Business Alliance. Members include insurance agents, restaurant owners, paint & hardware stores, flower shops, builders, a radio station, printers, a tire shop, a ski shop and more....all owned by people who live AND work in the community. These people are my neighbors; I run into them at the post office. They remember MY name. I don't know about you but I like that. I hope we never lose that small-town America feeling in My Community and I intend to put my money where my mouth is.