"I'm shopping local this year!"

That’s what my sister said as we were doing just thought - shopping at a local annual holiday bazaar that runs from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

As we made our purchases amongst the jewelry, goats milk soaps and lotions, hand made clutches and bags and clothing, she described what led to her decision. At the crux was the loss of yet another small town retail store.

“I had planned to do a little shopping online,” she admitted. “But not now! Not after I read the article in the paper.”

It turns out the small town hardware store closed due to a foreclosure. One of the owners, interviewed in the local paper, told the reporter how she was putting out Christmas items on a shelf when the county sheriff and bank personnel arrived at the store. The owner and her husband were told to turn over the keys of the business and their truck which was also part of the business loan.

The Sheriff was very professional and kind during the upsetting ordeal and gave them a ride home, she said.

She talked about the business which, during slow business months of January and February, had worked with the bank where they got the loan. But, when that bank was purchased by a larger corporate bank, such arrangements changed. But a big factor in their business was when a national discount box store came to town.

Many turned from the hardware store which had been a main street mainstay for at least 70 years to the discount store.

Sis told me how that discount store, which also sells milk, eggs and other food items plus almost everything for a buck things, has dipped into the business of well established stores.

The couple operating the hardware store hope to stay in the area, but they may be moving from the small town. Gone is a business and a couple involved in the community.

Sure, the discount store also employs people, but such discount stores, which have been popping up in other small towns in our area, do take a bite out of the local economy as other stores struggle to stay viable.

Whenever you purchase from a local business, a local grower and a local artisan, you are helping to keep people in the community. You are paying for dance lessons, for music lessons, for sports camps, for a family’s activities. You are helping to keep a family in the community and building on that strength.

So, as The Local Growers features some of the local growers and their goods, I hope you consider buying local.

Build relationships and get some great locally produced and made items.

Buy local!