How local is local?

The question reminds me of a similar question I faced as a gardening enthusiast.  I concentrated on growing native plants, but the question arose: how native is native?  On one end, some gardeners argued only plants that our first settlers would've found growing in what is now my backyard is native.  On the other end, as long as the plant could be found in the state, it is native.  Most gardeners fell somewhere in between, usually narrowing the definition to a smaller geographical area such as the county or a hundred-mile radius where the garden is located.  Purists, however, argued there was no such thing as a native plant since most of our native plants have the genes of non-native or hybridized cousins. 

The same range of thought exists with what one defines as a locally owned and operated business.  Some argue that only businesses within or very near one's town is a local business.  Others argue that businesses founded in the state are a local business.  Most people fall somewhere in between.  Purists, however, argue there is no such thing as a locally owned and operated business as most businesses require the services or products from outside of the region in order for the owners to conduct their business.

The answer to what defines a locally owned and operated business is further complicated by other factors.  Some would argue that a locally owned franchise should qualify as locally owned and operated.  Others would argue that a business, whose owner has moved out of state but still maintains the business locally, is locally owned and operated.

Now here is a trick question.  Is Delmarva Buildings a locally owned and operated business?  They have operations in MD, VA, NJ, and even an office in OH.  What about Goose Creek?  Their locations are concentrated on Delmarva, but they are home to Subway, which is not locally owned and operated.  Surely some investment group outside of Delmarva must own them.

In both cases, how The Original Shop Local Delmarva's defines locally owned and operated means both businesses fit the definition of locally owned and operated.  Delmarva Buildings is headquartered in Wyoming, DE and Goose Creek is a subsidiary of Cato Oil, headquartered in Salisbury, MD.  While personal information is private, there is enough readily available public information to reasonably believe the owners of the two different companies live on Delmarva at least part of the year.

So, yes, The Original Shop Local Delmarva considers both companies locally owned and operated.  

As for the Subways in the Goose Creek stores—they pay a lease or rental fee to the Cato Oil business owners to operate inside the store. A stand-alone Subway wouldn’t count as “locally owned and operated,” since the company is headquartered in Connecticut and franchise owners benefit from free, nationwide advertising—something our Mom-and-Pop shops can’t afford. But the Subways inside Goose Creek stores do pay a local leasing fee, which means they’re putting money into the local community (through Cato Oil), just like a bag of potato chips made and packaged outside Delmarva puts money into the community when someone buys it from the store.  

There are probably as many definitions to "locally owned and operated" as there are people who try to answer the question, how local is local.  Shop Local Delmarva considered all the ranges of thought on the subject, but discovered the definition came down to two key questions: what sort of business keeps most of its money circulating within the local community and what is the "local community"?

With those two questions in mind, Shop Local Delmarva first defined "local community" as all of Delmarva.  The reasoning was based on the fact that most of Delmarva is rural in nature and one couldn't expect to find everything they would need in their local town.  One may need to travel thirty miles or more to the next nearest town, but they could still support the local businesses there instead of relying on the national chains.  A strong Delmarva economy is more helpful for our small towns than the national economy, alone.  The thought is that studies have shown for every hundred dollars spent at Mom and Pops, sixty-eight dollars stays in the community to fund our schools and local projects compared to forty-eight dollars for a franchise or thirteen dollars for a national chain.

Ultimately, the definition of a locally owned and operated business is up to the individual to decide for themselves.  Whether one only considers shopping local in his/her immediate community or a larger geographical area, the important thing is shop local, Delmarva!  If everyone made a ten percent shift in their spending habits towards locally owned and operated businesses, your local economy would see huge benefits. 

Cuddles' notes:

Shop Local Delmarva excludes franchises and absent‑owner businesses because both send profits and decision‑making outside the community, limiting local economic benefit and identity.

Cuddles' notes:

The Original Shop Local Delmarva defines local as the geographic area south of the C&D Canal down to the mouth of the Chesapeake at the Bay Bridge Tunnel and bounded by the Susquehanna and Chesapeake Bay on the west side and the Atlantic on the east side.

Make the 10% shift

Here's the biggest obstacle for many to shopping locally: Why should I pay $1.09 for a widget at a locally owned and operated business when I can get the same or equal widget for $0.99 at a Big Box Store or off the Internet?

The shop local message is directed at two audiences: one with disposable income and one who budgets from paycheck to paycheck.

For those who have disposable income, the message of why one should shop local rings loud and clear and are, most likely, shopping local as much as they can.

For the majority of people who are living from paycheck to paycheck, budget is important and no matter how many stats one posts about the benefits of shopping local, the shoppers' bank account determines where they'll shop. Invariably, these consumers will opt for the widget that is ten cents cheaper.

Getting people to shop local or at least thinking about breaking their routine and visiting some locally owned and operated shops is a three-pronged effort being undertaken by The Original Shop Local Delmarva.

First, educate the average shopper on the benefits of shopping local. The benefits one would see in their community if everyone shopped local is a bit intangible to some yet immediately conceptualized by most, regardless of their budget.

Second, show the average consumer that not everything is "overpriced". Sure, one could save by buying some "necessities" at a big chain store, but there are plenty of locally owned and operated businesses that offer competitive pricing, and, yes, even cheaper pricing. Not only do they offer competitive pricing, but they also offer a variety of products, often locally produced or in a "niche market" that one would never find in a big box store.

Third, offer an opportunity to encourage the average shopper to shop local and discover what the big box stores don't offer. Big box stores want you, your family, your neighbors, and friends to have everything the same because mass-produced items can be sold cheaply. Your locally owned and operated businesses offer a variety the big box stores can't. 

Some studies suggest that a 10% shift in spending habits aimed towards our locally owned and operated businesses would result in $140 million in new local economic activity, create over 1,600 new jobs, and provide $50 million in new wages. No matter how tight one's budget is, making a 10% shift in spending habits is a doable goal for most people.

The Original Shop Local Delmarva plans to create a Shop Local Delmarva Day to help the average consumer learn more about why it is important to shop locally and to help achieve the 10% (or more) shift in spending habits. By designating one day a month as Shop Local Delmarva Day, the average consumer can decide the best way to support their local community by supporting their favorite locally owned and operated businesses.

Let's say a couple spends $1,500 per month in all the major areas of expenses such as food, clothing, household, home improvement (including yard and gardens), and entertainment. To meet the 10% goal, the couple could choose to spend $150 all on Shop Local Delmarva Day in several different locally owned stores or spread the spending out over the entire month (about $34 per week), depending on the couple's budget.

With the numbers broken down, the couple can easily make conscious 
buying decisions. Thirty-four dollars per week isn't a whole lot of money. They can decide to stop at a produce stand on their way home from work to buy fresh, local produce (food); buy a new pair of shoes and a new shirt or blouse at a local boutique during their lunch hour (clothing); stop at the local hardware store on their way home from work for odds and ends hardware (nails, hinges to fix a cabinet, or some paint or wood finish to bring new life to a piece of furniture or room) or stop at a local garden center for a bag of mulch, pest control products, or new fencing (home improvement); and stop at a locally owned restaurant, deli, or grocery market to pick up something to eat and drink instead of going through a  national chain's drive thru (entertainment).

With little changes like these, the couple would easily make the 10% shift in spending habits towards our locally owned and operated businesses. It may not sound like much, but if everyone made the tiny shift, the effort could be the difference between a community surviving and a community thriving.