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Making local work for you

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Staff

BY MARGOT C. LESTER

There’s been a lot of hullabaloo about buying local this holiday season. And I say, right on! But I’m not an ideologue who’s trying to guilt you into changing your shopping patterns. My desire to support locally owned producers, purveyors and providers is rooted in my roots. I grew up in a family-owned business. I know the value of loyal customers. So I advocate buying local whenever possible because it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

According to town officials, for every dollar you spend with a locally owned business, 68 cents stays in the community. Spend that same buck at a chain store and only 43 cents sticks around. So more of your hard-earned cash is put to work in the community (in the form of sales and business taxes, wages paid, charitable support, etc.) when you spend it with a local business owner. What’s not to like?

In an ideal world, we’d all be buying goods and services made and sold by people who live in our own town. It’s a swell vision, but it’s unrealistic unless you want the auto industry to relocate to Carrboro or the washing machine manufacturers to establish an outpost in Hillsborough. For those of us who want to do more to support our local economy, a better definition of “local” is required.

So what is it? Hard to say. Some would like to set the commerce border at the town limits, but that triggers the unavailability issues mentioned above. Same goes for county borders. Some foodies consider local within 150 miles. I’m on Carrboro’s Local Living Economy Task Force, and I can tell you even we aren’t 100 percent sure what “local” is. So maybe it’s just however far you have to go to find all the stuff you need.

Lacking a simple rule, I’ve developed my own approach. Here’s how it works: Since Carrboro is the center of my universe, I envision concentric circles emanating from the Paris of the Piedmont. I try to buy in and of Carrboro first, then Chapel Hill, White Cross or Hillsborough. Admittedly, it’s a damn sight easier to buy from a locally owned business than try to make sure every item on your list is grown or made locally. Where, after all, am I going to find a locally made popcorn popper? If you know, pass it on! So if I have to go to a chain store, I try to find a franchise in the area so at least I’m helping a neighbor (plus racking up those sales tax revenues and supporting job creation). If that’s not possible, like when our washer died earlier this year and needed to be replaced, I choose chain stores carefully. (I pick Lowe’s over Home Depot, for example, because Lowe’s is based in Mooresville, N.C. At least that way I’m helping the state’s corporate tax base.) And if what I need’s not available from a company based in the Old North State, I try to shop stores in Orange County, so at least sales taxes ring up in my neck of the woods.

Now, I’m not saying you have to check out all your favorite stores to determine local ownership. That’s probably not practical for 90 percent of us (me, included). Nor am I suggesting that locality should trump price if cost is a major factor in your buying habits (as it likely is for many in an economy like this one). Local’s better for the community, but it might not always be best for your cash flow. Yes, I said it. Please don’t send me any angry letters.

The key, to my mind, is to try. Make one decision this week to buy something made and/or sold by someone in your own burgh. Every little bit helps!

Last-minute gift ideas

If you’re still struggling to find the perfect gift for someone on your list, here are a few ideas:

First Lady of Fabulous Reusable Grocery Bag: Adorned with a likeness of Michelle Obama, these cool bags show your devotion to our stylish First Lady and the environment. Talk about liberal chic! $12.95, Kitchenworks, University Mall.

Dinner for Two: Give a gift certificate (enough for a dinner for two) to their favorite restaurant (or yours!). Most eateries have their menus on the web, so you can check prices.

Charger Mats: Most of us have at least one device that needs charging. I’m intrigued by the mats that allow you to just lay your device down and – voilà – the batteries are a-chargin’, no plugs required! Prices range from $50 to $125, and they’re available at most major retailers and computer stores.

Mr. & Mrs. Claus Candied Apples: Double your fun with these cute – and tasty – holiday treats. Miel Bon Bons, Carr Milll Mall.

Charitable Giving: With so many people needing a little extra help this year, why not channel your holiday gift-giving to a local charity. Choose an organization that’s meaningful to the recipient and make a donation in his or her name. There’s a good list at ncnonprofits.org/memberlists/orange.asp.

Light Reading: How did Chapel Hill get where it is today? Find out in Remembering Chapel Hill: The Twentieth Century as We Lived It, written by The Citizen’s own Valarie Schwartz. $21.99, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill; Brick Alley Books, Hillsborough; and McIntyre’s Books, Fearrington Village.

Local Goodies: Want to give hand-crafted items this winter, but don’t want to do the crafting yourself? Head to one of the local farmers’ markets and pick up some preserves, soaps, and other crafts and foodstuffs. It’s the most direct way to support your local economy!

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