Publisher’s Points to Ponder Just Say ‘No’ to Big Box Stores and Keep it Local

I always make an effort to shop locally because it is important to have our dollars circulated in the community. The only time I shop at the superstores--commonly known as Big Box Stores--is when I can’t find something locally. When I am forced to shop outside of Olney, I often become frustrated with the level of service demonstrated at other stores that shall not be mentioned. Especially stores that begin with W and end with T.

Customer service entails everything from pleasant greetings, offering assistance to find hard-to-locate items and speedy checkouts, among other things. Unfortunately, my latest trip resulted in a poor rating in all three areas of the less than stellar service I received. It seems as though people are just not that concerned about being helpful. They don’t appear to take the time to learn anything about their products or inventory. And my favorite is when they start scanning your items without a single greeting. On the other hand, when I shop local, poor customer service is never an issue.

I believe there is something special about small communities, especially ours. When people greet you by name when you enter their place of business, it sets the tone for a pleasurable experience. Our local vendors have offered to order items they don’t have in stock to ensure 100 percent customer satisfaction. I certainly appreciate this personalized service that I don’t get when shopping outside of Olney.

Some people have complained about the price of convenience when shopping local. The points to ponder are: Is the price difference worth a missed opportunity to keep Olney residents employed? Are less expensive products worth the risk of business closures in our community? My heart goes out to people who live on a budget--I am one of those people. Still, there is a way to shop local while remaining consistent with your budget. Especially when the time and expense of gas should be factored into your overall costs when deciding to shop outside of Olney.

My goal is not to make anyone feel bad about making the best choices for their family. I simply want you to consider ways to keep your business local. Your support within this community contributes to the sustainability of Olney.

Please share your thoughts with us via a letter to the editor or via a Facebook post: www.Facebook.com/OlneyEnterprise. I look forward to seeing you around town, keeping it local.