Have you wondered about the wide-eyed frog, “Hopper the Shopper,” that has been leaping onto the pages of The Northeast Georgian?
Hopper’s message, worth repeating, is this: Keep it local.
The Northeast Georgian – once again partnering with the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce, and Main Street programs in Clarkesville and Cornelia – announces the 2023 Shop Habersham campaign.
This year, we invite you to focus on Saturday, Nov. 25, and encourage you to spend at least $25 to infuse our local economy.
Many merchants will offer special discounts Nov. 25, sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, both heavy holiday shopping days.
Additionally, look for the special pages in the Nov. 17 and Nov. 24 editions of The Northeast Georgian, highlighting participating advertisers and more information about the benefits of keeping your purchases local.
Receipts from any local purchase of $25 or more made Nov. 25 can be turned in for a drawing, with winners to be announced in the Dec. 8 Weekend edition of The Northeast Georgian.
You can find the list of prizes that will be given out below.
The drop-off location for all receipts is The Northeast Georgian office, located at 2440 Old Athens Highway, Cornelia.
PRIZES
• Habersham Chamber: $100 gift card
• City of Cornelia: Gift basket
• City of Clarkesville: Gift basket
• The Northeast Georgian: $100 Visa gift card
Five reasons to shop small over big box stores
The importance of small businesses to the economy cannot be overstated. Though national chains often garner publicity, local businesses are equally, if not exceedingly, worthy of attention.
What defines a small business as “small” varies significantly, but these businesses are generally privately owned and generate far less revenue than big corporations. General consensus also defines small businesses as companies with fewer than 500 paid employees, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Here’s a deep look at why small businesses are so vital, and why consumers should direct more of their purchasing power to smaller companies rather than the big box retailers and other national chains.
1. Autonomy and diversity – The layout and offerings at national chains will be identical whether you live in the mountains or at the beach. Big box stores follow a consistent marketing strategy and look the same regardless of where they are located. That familiarity can come at the cost of variety. On the other hand, an independent business offers products and services that are reflective of the customers and the community they serve.
2. Local hiring strategy – Certain big box retailers will hire local residents, but hiring policies may push for promoting from within the organization. This could mean relocating an employee rather than bringing in someone from the community who may be more in tune with local sensibilities. Small businesses may be more inclined to hire residents they know and keep hiring centralized to the local area – something that keeps more resources and money in the community.
3. Adaptability and change – Local businesses can move more quickly to respond to economic factors that require change. Since they are focused more on the needs of their customers rather than stockholders, changes can be implemented rapidly without having to go through red tape, meetings and updates to corporate policies. Changes also can be customized to the local community at large.
4. Investing in the town – According to the financial resource Financial Slot, shopping at locally owned businesses rather than big box retailers keeps more money in the community. Local property taxes and other taxes paid by the businesses go right back into the community. This helps raise overall value for homeowners and can even reduce their taxes. The funding helps keep police, fire and school departments functioning properly.
5. Turnover is greater – While no one wants to see a small business fail, that fate is sometimes unavoidable. However, that turnover helps teach communities what was done poorly and helps others learn from those mistakes. It also means fresh businesses will come in and replace the old, driving new growth, opportunity and competition that keeps prices competitive.
The benefits of a thriving small business sector are numerous. Consumers can do their part by patronizing these firms more frequently.
– Staff reports