They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
--Benjamin Franklin
A few weeks ago, I was driving through a nearby neighborhood with my 8 year old, when he asked:
"Mom, what does 'give us back our America' mean? Don't we already have our America?"
It took me just a second to find his reference - a garage door painted like the flag with the wording written across it. At this moment, I had a few options: try to explain politics as simply as possible to someone who is too young to understand and probably isn't interested, breeze over it as quickly as possible, or use it to teach a lesson. Of course, I chose the latter...after I gave a brief political and historical lesson.
"Mom, what does 'give us back our America' mean? Don't we already have our America?"
It took me just a second to find his reference - a garage door painted like the flag with the wording written across it. At this moment, I had a few options: try to explain politics as simply as possible to someone who is too young to understand and probably isn't interested, breeze over it as quickly as possible, or use it to teach a lesson. Of course, I chose the latter...after I gave a brief political and historical lesson.
As an entrepreneur and small business owner, I see the effects of a lack of liberty and a change in laws that deeply affect our opportunities because they take rights away. I'm not going to get into a big political conversation on here, but I want to point out a few things that business owners should be more aware of.
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| http://www.todaysgardencenter.com/sales-floor/displays-merchandising/small-business-saturday-use-these-resources-to-promote-your-business/ |
The lesson that I explained was about the benefits of shopping local or using local contractors.
This is a real story of something happening locally:
There is a stone wall that is in need of repair. Company A, a local company, approached the wall owner a few years ago to offer their services in repairing the wall, but at that time there was no budget for the repair. Last year, the funds were available and the job was put out to bid. Company A was the only bidder in a public bid. The wall owner decided not to move forward at that time. In April, the wall owner decided to proceed and Company A once again bid the same amount. Company B, a contractor from 2-1/2 hours away, underbid Company A since the bad last fall was public. Company A is likely to lose the opportunity to do the work for the wall owner.
This is a real story of something happening locally:
There is a stone wall that is in need of repair. Company A, a local company, approached the wall owner a few years ago to offer their services in repairing the wall, but at that time there was no budget for the repair. Last year, the funds were available and the job was put out to bid. Company A was the only bidder in a public bid. The wall owner decided not to move forward at that time. In April, the wall owner decided to proceed and Company A once again bid the same amount. Company B, a contractor from 2-1/2 hours away, underbid Company A since the bad last fall was public. Company A is likely to lose the opportunity to do the work for the wall owner.
I explained this to my son and asked him how he felt. His initial response was that since Company B bid the lowest that they should get the contract. I took this opportunity to explain supporting local business. I asked him where he thought the money earned by Company B would go. He said that it would go wherever Company B was located. I asked him where the money would go if Company A received the contract. He understand that it would stay locally. I then took it a step further.
One of our favorite restaurants is Olive Garden. We patronize chain restaurants often, because sadly we don't have as many mom-and-pop type restaurants in our area. I explained that when we eat at Olive Garden, they keep money locally to pay their employees, and to pay their taxes and overhead, then the profits go to the corporate office. The food that they buy comes from a national company with greenhouses and farms outside of the area. "Well, where does the money go?" he asked. After a quick search, I told him "Florida." He didn't think that was fair. He didn't like that his (my) money wasn't working locally. It wasn't going to support local efforts and growth; instead, it went across the country to work in some other community.
I then took the chance to explain about a local farm-to-table restaurant that's opening this summer. They will buy their in-season foods from local farms and companies. They will employ all local people instead of bringing in upper-level leadership from out of the area. They will funnel the money they have into the local economy. Patronizing a restaurant like this helps our region more than eating at Olive Garden.
So what does this have to do with the rights of business?
Well, obviously the local decision makers are okay and supportive of franchise and out-of-the-area businesses coming in and pulling monies out of the region. And the local businesses owners should be more vocal about this. We should support each other, and patronize our local businesses. And not just on "Small Business Saturday," but as often as possible. Yes, I'll still eat at Olive Garden and shop at Kroger, but whenever it is feasible, I'm going to go to Bradley's and shop at the farmer's market and local butcher shop. We should also make sure that we're aware of the laws that our elected officials are supporting on our behalf. We need to speak up and let them know how we feel about policy. We need to advocate for our beliefs, because believe it or not, most politicians don't understand small business.
Well, obviously the local decision makers are okay and supportive of franchise and out-of-the-area businesses coming in and pulling monies out of the region. And the local businesses owners should be more vocal about this. We should support each other, and patronize our local businesses. And not just on "Small Business Saturday," but as often as possible. Yes, I'll still eat at Olive Garden and shop at Kroger, but whenever it is feasible, I'm going to go to Bradley's and shop at the farmer's market and local butcher shop. We should also make sure that we're aware of the laws that our elected officials are supporting on our behalf. We need to speak up and let them know how we feel about policy. We need to advocate for our beliefs, because believe it or not, most politicians don't understand small business.
How do you contribute to local companies?
Do you actively seek them out over national companies and franchises?
Is this an important issue to you?
Do you actively seek them out over national companies and franchises?
Is this an important issue to you?
Nicole
The Restless Entrepreneur
The Restless Entrepreneur
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