Merchants hope shoppers buy local

Small entrepreneurs are depending on Southern Marylanders for holidays

Friday, Nov. 28, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by REID SILVERMAN Rob Plant, owner of the Blue Wind Gourmet in California, offers a variety of items from local vendors, including wine from Solomons Island and spring lettuce from Mennonite farmers in Loveville. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Merchants have a message for Southern Marylanders this holiday season: Don't just shop, shop locally.

Many business leaders say small entrepreneurs in the region are depending on their communities now more than ever to make it through economic turmoil, and for many retailers, restaurants and other companies, the winter season could make or break them.

"I think a lot of times what the customers don't think about is that when you're shopping locally it goes back into your community and affects your life," said Eleanor Shifflett, owner of Shore LIVING, a gift shop in Dunkirk. "It helps us survive. It benefits your police, your fire department, your schools."

"I think it's a great practice for consumers if they have the option to spend their money with local, independent merchants. It … employs more folks and keeps the economy going. It defines who we are," said Bob Schaller, director of economic and community development for St. Mary's County. "Nothing against the big-box retailers because they fill a void, but where there are choices … spend your money and keep it here in the county. The folks you buy from, you know them, they're big participants in the community, whatever the activity is, and they're by and large small firms; it's not like they have the wherewithal to get through these tough times."

"Customer loyalty is huge to the success of an individual business or the success of an entire county," said Ken Gould Jr., executive director of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce. "About 80 percent of our business is small business. A lot of the retailers target that Thanksgiving-to-Christmas period to their survival. … I think everybody's as prepared as you can be for a less-than-wonderful Christmas spending spree."

Buying local is not only a good practice for consumers, but for businesspeople as well, said Rob Plant, owner of Blue Wind Gourmet, a restaurant and wine and beer store in California.

"We try and buy local whenever we can," he said. "That is pretty much everything. We have local artwork hanging. We buy local greens and local vegetables. We sell some local music. We also include trying to buy oil locally and use local repair people."

"You can get better service and customized and friendly service. For merchants, as they do well, they hire local people and pay local taxes and give money to charity. It certainly is a nice circle of success," said Danita Boonchaisri, marketing and communications specialist for the Calvert County Economic Development Department. "You can find a unique gift that won't be found at Macy's or Walmart."

"We wanted to bring artists from all over the country to Southern Maryland," said Nancy Kuzmick, manager of Dragonflies Gifts and Crafts. "And everything in our shop is handmade, one of a kind, except for our wine accessories."

Blue Wind Gourmet and Dragonflies in Lexington Park participate in the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission's Southern Maryland Trails guide, which includes sites that celebrate the area's natural culture and heritage such as farms, art studios and galleries, eateries, lodgings, with emphasis on quality and authenticity, as a way to promote local patronage.

"On the positive side of it, something that we have seen is when folks are struggling, we've seen a lot more partnering going on and pulling resources and coming up with unique ways to get people into their stores," said Kelly Robertson-Slagle, business retention specialist for the Calvert Economic Development Department. "If you get them in town, make sure you keep them in town."

Local merchants "want to keep servicing their customers, and they're more than ever conscious of this," Schaller said. "They make it or break it on this holiday season."

kkulp@somdnews.com