Do you guys support your local businesses? I got to thinking about this in the last few months because a number of our local stores have been shutting their doors, no doubt a result of the Internet age of shopping. The Wherehouse that used to be on our corner where we could rent movies and check out the latest music closed down abruptly after Christmas, and the Toys R Us that is close to us shut its doors last weekend. Gospel Books and Music over in Mountain View shut down last year – a result of not being able to compete with online prices.
I’m a little torn on this. As a consumer with a constant eye for bargains, I typically go to where the price is the best. I buy books from Amazon and photo gear from B&H, yet at the same time, I like to frequent our local coffee shops, ask for advice and rent from Keeble (a great photo store in Palo Alto), and get my haircut at the place two blocks away. I hate to see small mom and pop shops and even local chains succumb to the rules of economics. It takes away from the character of neighborhoods and also the ability to do seemingly routine things like ask questions and get good customer service.
In any case, just some thoughts. Knowing that it must be really difficult to keep a small business or shop afloat this day in age, I feel inclined to help out the local store as often as I can. Even still, Marcia and I benefitted from the 70% off sale at Toys R Us by getting a couple Dance Dance Revolution pads for 6 bucks. Now we’ve been playing almost every day, and my legs get really, really tired. 
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Interesting post on a very relevant topic. It seems that for the most part, people are willing to support mom-and-pop shops in the food industry more than higher end goods – I’d rather get a burrito from La Bamba than from Baja Fresh, even though both are pretty good.
Aside from the choices we make as consumers, what do you think the smaller stores can do in terms of changing up their operating methods to build a loyal and steady customer base?
Keeble and Shuchat is a da bomb. ha. Actually you are right about all this. Most of us don’t know that when we shop with places like Amazon, we give business to them, but they give nothing back to the community. Whereas when you shop for example with Keeble, the sales tax revenue goes back to the county coffers, which in turn goes back to you in the form of government services. There’s still a strong contingent of consumers who believe strongly enough in this principle that they won’t buy online. However, some online offers are irresistable I’ll admit. =-)
I noticed a ton of local businesses in NYC, specifically, food markets. Expensive ones, too. I think part of the issue is that people don’t have cars there. A lot of variety at the store there, too.
Hmmm. Interesting. I wonder if any of those are struggling because of online places…