The best place to start is local stores. Back in the day (which day? I'm not totally sure) all stores were locally owned. No big box chain MegaMart with $1 items made in China. Now I do realize these stores do have some positive aspects. I'd just like there to be a happy medium.
I live in a relatively small town, about 25,000. We have a quaint, historic downtown area with a great history. There are stores downtown that have been in families for generations. The problem is we are becoming a "bedroom" town - one where people only go home to sleep - and they work and shop and have fun elsewhere. Most people in my town barely know we have a downtown.
Explore your town or neighborhood! You never know what fabulous gems you may find!
Here is just a taste of what I've experienced in this town over the last 7 years:
- A coffee shop that didn't take credit cards. I forgot cash one day and they owner let me come back the next day to pay - no questions asked.
- A downtown business group fundraiser with some amazing deals at their silent auction.
- Antiques stores with just about anything you could want, and then some. Last week I bought a locally hand made repurposed wool sweater for my daughter that was adorable!
- A yoga student of mine who gave me all her old canning jars and wouldn't take money for it.
- An amazing photographer that no longer charges me sitting fees because I've given or referred her so much business.
- An e-mail to save a great local restaurant.
- A bank where the employees know me by name and I don't need to show ID
- A small hardware store that often has things that Home Depot doesn't with amazing customer service.
1 comment:
Isn't small town service great? I too have had dinner and then realized my husband nor I had anything except plastic to pay with. The owner just shrugged it off and said, "That's ok, I know where you live!"
I've had similar experiences at the bank too. Thanks for the nice article - I hadn't given it much thought but I really do appreciate those little personal touches.
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