1E Why shopping local matters I t’s easy to forget that shopping local helps your community and state in many, many ways. From tax dollars to supporting mom-and-pop businesses, the benefi ts are myriad. Spend local and more stays local Numerous studies have analyzed the way money recirculates, and most agree that money spent locally has a much higher chance of staying in the community. A study commissioned by the British Columbia division of the Canadian Union of Public Employ- ees found that for every $1 million in sales, in- dependent retail stores generate $450,000 in local economic activity, com- pared to just $170,000 for chains. Among res- taurants, the fi gures are $650,000 for independents and $300,000 for chains. Across both sectors, this translates into about 2.6 times as many local jobs created when spending is directed to indepen- dent businesses instead of chains. Th e study con- cludes that a shift of just 10 percent of the market from chains to indepen- dents would produce 31,000 jobs paying $940 million in annual wages to workers. more stable jobs Economists at Yale Uni- versity and the University of Bristol found that in times of high unemploy- ment, small businesses both retain and create more jobs than large fi rms. During the reces- sion of March 2008 to March 2009, the employ- ment growth rate of large employers fell 1.65 percent more than the growth rate of small employers, com- pared with the previous year. In every other reces- sion and recovery period in the study’s sample, large fi rms took years to recover relative to small fi rms. It’s better for the community A study by a professor at Baylor University found strong positive relation- ships between local ownership, fi rm size and employee loyalty, which they refer to as organiza- tional commitment. Using data from a nation- ally representative public opinion survey, the study found that 57.2 percent of small fi rm workers scored in the highest commit- ment category, compared to 40.5 percent of large fi rm workers. Th ey found a similar relationship for ownership, with 56 percent of workers at lo- cally owned fi rms having high commitment scores, compared with just 38.7 percent of workers at non- locally owned fi rms. When the researchers plotted the scores on a 16-point commitment scale, the authors found that, together, the two civic measures accounted for as much as a 1.7 point increase in organizational commitment, eff ects. Connect Locally It might seem like some- thing out of a Norman Rockwell painting, but hit- ting downtown to do some shopping really can help put you in the Christmas spirit and provide a deeper connection with your local surroundings. Most towns decorate the downtown streets, and many shops do holiday- themed window displays to attract shoppers. Yes, you should spend some money while you’re out (it helps the local economy, aft er all), but just hitting the streets to do some window shopping is a great way to bond with your family and friends during Christmas. Hit the streets When you’re ramping up your Christmas shopping strategy, set aside a Satur- day, or aft ernoon, to park (or walk, if you’re close enough) into your clos- est shopping district and start exploring. You might fi nd a store you’ve never seen, or at least make an eff ort to visit a store you don’t frequent very oft en. It’s a great chance to look for unique gift s, while also getting to know your own town a little bit better. Make it a family bonding experience Even if you don’t actually pick up any gift s while the kids (or spouse) are with you, hitting the local stores to scout out gift options is a great way to just spend some time with your family. Tell your kids stories about unique fi nds in the antique store, or let them make a list of gift options while perusing the aisles at a downtown general store. If you’re shopping for adults, it can also give you a chance to glance into lo- cal downtown boutiques. It just feels like Christmas Walking the streets in downtown, with a chill in the air in November or December, as the Christ- mas lights twinkle around the street lights and in the windows, just feels quintessentially Christ- mas. It evokes the visuals and emotions from classic holiday fi lms like Miracle on 34th Street, and is just a great tradition to add to the Christmas season. Black Friday & Small Business Saturday Sale MYSTERY DISCOUNTS 10 to 30% off your entire purchase! Sip on warm cider and enjoy a cookie while you shop at Cottage Grove’s Locally Owned Florist & Gift Boutique with so much more! The Flower Basket and Gift Boutique 119 South 6th Street • Cottage Grove 541-942-0505 www.cottagegroveflowerbasket.com 20+ Be dro 15+ D o m S e t s ini Gift Ce ng Sets rtifi c Availa ates ble In-Sto re Specia ls Quality Home Furnishings at Low Prices. Family owned since 1971 • Rob Scoggin • (541) 942-8711 • Fax (541) 942-7181 615 Main Street • Cottage Grove • HomesteadCG.com CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL NOVEMBER 23, 2016