Shop Local… What Does That Really Mean?

Picture a world of comradeship, where neighbors helping neighbors is the common theme and people wave to each other when passing on the street… where no one is a stranger, even if they aren't from here or don't live here.

This world really does exist… in Boundary County.

Too often "Shop Local" is seen as a buzzword, a fad or the "in" thing to promote. However, in order to maintain the lifestyles we cherish, the very reasons we've decided to live in Boundary County, it is imperative for the community to support the local economy and keep our county economically viable.

Day after day people tell us how much they enjoy the Boundary County Digest. They explain the relief they feel to have such a positive newspaper where they can get to know the flavor of the community, the local people and businesses that make Boundary County what it is. The entire reason we are able to give this newspaper free to every mailbox in the county is because of local businesses. When readers support the businesses, the businesses support us, allowing us to distribute to the whole county and keep everyone informed.

In addition to being a forum for positive social interaction within our community, the Boundary County Digest, like other enterprises in the county, is also a business. As such, the Digest must function in a fiscally responsible manner in conjunction with the other businesses in our community. It is the only locally owned and operated newspaper in the county. One hundred percent of our owners and employees reside in Boundary County. We are proud to support the businesses and events in the community and strive to shop locally whenever possible.

If you were driving down the road and saw your neighbor with a flat tire, of course, you would stop to see if you could help. You may not be able to fix the tire or buy a new one, but you could still give support, even if it's just calling a tow truck.

That's what buying locally does for everyone in the community. It's the same principle: We help each other so that we can all move on down the road.

What would our community be without these businesses?

The most common excuse for not shopping locally tends to be, "It's so expensive here." Sometimes that may be the case however, is it reality? When you figure in the gas prices today, plus the time it takes to travel to another town and the energy expended fighting traffic, the crowds of people swarming to purchase cheaply made items in a disposable world that often need to be replaced every year, how much are you really saving? Often times prices here match those found outside our community and the variety may actually be larger.

Another common reason given is that necessities just aren't available here. Often this is due to local people travelling out of county to purchase items, causing local businesses to stop carrying them or, worse yet, close their doors.

Just as people in this community come out of the woodwork to help a family in need, we need to come out of the woodwork to help the local economy in need. Our "family in need" in this case is the local business community. Safeway isn't just a place where we buy our groceries; it's the place where Brett Brown works to earn enough to support his family. LaMar's isn't the name of a store where we purchase our office supplies or have our sewing machine repaired, he's the long-standing neighbor who has supported this community in times of need.

The stability of a business in Boundary County directly relates to every other business, ours included. The financial health of the local retail shops, services and businesses allows them to advertise with us, which, in turn, allows us to provide a local newspaper for our community.

At the Digest, we want to see EVERYBODY do well; to help our community thrive, not just survive.

So, next time you have a need for something, look through the paper and try to "shop local." Help keep Boundary County alive.