Chamber Director set to break record for Shopping Local

In light of these difficult economic times, shopping locally is even more
important to the vitality of our communities.  Rich Bysina, Winfield Chamber
of Commerce Executive Director sent out a message that today, a day which
marks the 34th anniversary of the Winfield Chamber, he was going to conduct
business with 34 Winfield Chamber members – in an effort to Shop Local and
support our community.  He was inspired by an article that I had written in
the Winfield Word (an official Village of Winfield publication).  I was
pleased and inspired by his efforts. What a great story, to showcase community pride and dedication to his work as a Chamber Executive Director.  It is his job after all to support the area businesses.  If more would follow his lead, the ripple effects would result in a greater ability to sustain our communities through these difficult financial times.

Rich is not expecting his task to be complete until around 7pm, when I talked to him at 4:30pm he was at business #27 waiting to get a massage at The Lightheart Center.  If you are around town today and happened to “catch him in the act” of doing good community service – please post and let me know.  I hope when he is done he will post a break down for us of his experience.

Thanks Rich for promoting community pride.  I challenge anyone to break this record of transacting business (shopping) at more than 34 local businesses.

Angel Oakley

———- Rich Bysina Email re: plan to set the shop local record———-

From: Rich Bysina
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 5:34 PM
To: Many
Subject: Guinness World Record?

Tomorrow morning, Friday, January 9th, I’m going to personally visit and
conduct a business transaction at 34 different Winfield Chamber member
businesses. The reason? I explained it in Chamber News Update #3, sent out
earlier today, which stated:

Partially inspired by Winfield Village Trustee Angel Oakley’s “Shopping
Local Makes a Big Difference” article in the last 2008 edition of Winfield
Word (official publication of the Village), as well as by the U.S. Chamber’s
annual State of American Business address that was webcast yesterday from
Washington, D.C., I’m going to kick off our Winfield Chamber’s 34th
anniversary year tomorrow, Friday, January 9th, by helping to promote local
Chamber businesses.
It will be done with a “Shopping Local” blitz that will surpass the record
established by yours truly four years ago, when I visited 30 businesses and
made 30 separate transactions — in one day!  STUFF photographer, Tim Morris
of TMO Video, will cover part of this blitz, which will appear in the
February edition of Winfield STUFF.

Rich Bysina, Executive Director
P.S. When this feat is successfully completed – scheduled more or less
sometime around 7:00pm tomorrow evening – I will challenge any other Chamber
in the area to break this record. Note: I did this four years ago with 30
Chamber businesses.

————————- Shop Local Article ————————

Below is a paste of the article I wrote in the Village of Winfield
newsletter:
Shopping Local Makes a Big Difference

While big chain stores and online retailers lure customers in with big
savings, there are some additional cost factors we should consider before we
take our dollars outside our community.

#1. Keep money in Winfield.
Studies have shown that local business redistribute up to 70% of every
dollar received back into the community.  Locally owned merchants
redistribute much more than chain stores. The difference is attributed to
three factors: a higher local payroll at the independent stores (unlike
chain, none of their operations are carried out at out-of-town
headquarters); the local stores purchased more goods and services locally;
local stores tend to donate more; and the local stores retained a much
larger share of their profits within the local economy.

#2. Support community groups.
Nonprofits receive an average of 350% more support from local business
owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses, by way of donations
and volunteerism.

#3. Get better service.
In a local business, you know the person behind the counter, and they know
you. They have a deep understanding of the products they’re selling, and
they take time to serve their customers.

#4. Create and keep good jobs.
Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally, and small
businesses account for the vast majority of job growth. Locally owned
businesses are far less likely to pull up stakes and move operations to
another city or country, taking their jobs with them.

#5. Promote competition and diversity.
A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based on the needs
of their local customers and not on a national sales plan, guarantees a much
broader range of product choices.

#6. Help out the environment.
Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases, requiring less
transportation, and they generally set up shop in commercial corridors
rather than developing on the fringe. This means less sprawl, congestion,
habitat loss, and pollution.

#7. Embrace what makes Winfield different.
Supporting our small retailers, restaurants, and service providers preserves
our village’s character.

#8. Put your taxes to good use.
Local businesses in neighborhoods need comparatively less infrastructure
investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to
nationally owned stores entering the community.

#9. Vote with your dollars.
Based on other studies conducted, if each Winfield household redirected just
$250 of planned spending to locally owned merchants, the local economic
impact would reach nearly $1 Million, of which $130K – $700K would be
redistributed locally.

#10. Invest in the community.
Local businesses are owned by people who live here, work here, and are
invested in the community with much more than just their dollars.

Reach out and support our local businesses – as they benefit, we will too.
Make Winfield a desirable place to open up a business.  Join the campaign –
Shop Local – Spread the Word. Together We Can build a stronger more vibrant
community despite these hard economic times. Contact Angel Oakley for more
information about how you can help: aoakley@villageofwinfield.com.