It’s that time of year again—one of the many times a year when local businesses are hit by sports teams, clubs, yearbook staffs and slews of other groups and organizations seeking sponsorships for their teams, publications, and other projects. All of these groups want and expect these businesses to donate varying amounts of cash for this project or that project. All of these groups are deserving of their support, aren’t they? Why shouldn’t our local businesses support all of these things? Let’s pause for a minute though— what should these businesses expect from you?
If we expect businesses to put ads in our school yearbooks and programs, if we expect them to sponsor our sports teams and our church programs or whatever, then our businesses should expect us to shop with them here, locally, whenever possible. When we go out to buy an item, the first place we should seek it out is at a local business.
Our local businesses carry a wide selection of high quality items and most times one can find exactly what they are looking for or sometimes something even better right here in Dillon County. Shopping in Dillon County is convenient, saves time, and saves gas.
When we shop locally, we support the businesses that employ our friends and neighbors. We better our own economy because we keep these dollars in our county. Studies have shown that $1 spent at a local business will through a multiplier effect return five times that amount to the community through taxes, employee pay, etc. Dollars spent locally benefit us locally.
So if you expect your local businesses to support you, then we must support them. If we don’t, then these businesses may not be around to call upon or they may not be able to financially support community projects because they are not being supported by the citizens. Support our local businesses and shop locally first.