National Independents Week celebrated at Legion Hall
By Wendy Halleck
When I was a child, growing up in Chicago, my grandmother would take
me on errand runs. We would stop at the butcher, the fruit stand, the
bakery and the local coffee shop. My grandmother was one of many immigrant
women in her neighborhood, but wherever we stopped, she was greeted
by name. She seemed to be an important person to each shop owner. Holding
her hand, I felt important too.
I am now a local shop owner. I’m lucky. I have a great staff
and a wonderful place to go to work each day. Some who know my business
might think the greatest perk would be getting the first crack at new
merchandise, but for me the best part of being an independent business
owner has been the opportunity to connect with and be part of this community.
Over the past 18 years, I have met interesting people and formed lasting
and loyal friendships. I have seen the children of my customers grow
into adults and become my customers. I have been invited to weddings
and sadly to funerals. I think I speak for most local business owners
when I say that above all, it is this connection that makes the other
struggles of business ownership worthwhile. It is a solid foundation
for great quality of life.
I was excited to become a part of the local business community when
I opened my doors in 1989. I felt that I found a real hometown when
I moved to Tallahassee and I wanted to be a part of it. There was a
local hardware store up the street, a locally owned bagel shop and a
feminist bookstore near campus. It was hard to say where the center
of town was, but local treasures were everywhere.
As Tallahassee grew, I became concerned about the type of growth I
saw. Both of the malls had expanded and were growing still. New corporate
chains filled the retail spaces. We were becoming homogenized along
with the rest of America. On the surface it seemed like progress. Tallahassee
was now on the map…becoming more sophisticated and being offered
more “choices.” But to my mind, products and services that
are based on formulaic concepts devised in offices far removed from
our community are less of a “choice.”
I have come to accept and dare I admit, to even appreciate some of
these mega businesses. Sometimes there is just no other choice. There
are certainly some corporations who operate better than others, but
we must keep in mind that it is responsibility to shareholders –
not responsibility to customers or community – that guides the
bottom line decisions of large corporations.
It is locally owned businesses and community organizations that truly
add interest, diversity, character and heart to our hometowns. It is
also locally owned businesses that provide economic and overall community
health and stability.
When compared to their chain competitors, locally owned businesses
have a more sustainable impact on the local economy. Their tax dollars
and profits are recycled back into the community. Locally owned businesses
hire local people and offer quality jobs. They build relationships and
employ the services of local musicians, artists, accountants, merchants,
graphic designers, printers, painters, contractors and craftspeople.
They send their children to local schools and support the services that
keep our community healthy.
While we have lost some locally owned businesses to corporate competition,
many local favorites still are here. Happily there are many new talented
and creative entrepreneurs who are willing to take a chance, even in
a global economy, to add their unique talents, products and services
to our community.
This week, July 1-8 is National Independents Week. It is a week of
celebration and recognition of locally owned independent businesses
across the country.
The members of Locally Owned Tallahassee will be sponsoring two free
events for the community. We invite the entire community, our customers,
our friends, our staff, our families and all independent business owners
to join us. Let’s stay connected. Let’s keep our sense of
community. Let’s have fun!
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