The waitress (who also happened to be the bed and breakfast keeper) walked up to our table with a smile, excited to tell my guest and I about the menu for the day. She also went on to explain how the food came from her family’s farm right down the street and how her grandmother’s recipe was used to make the daily dessert. I ordered a chicken casserole and side salad that was beyond delicious. Farm to table food has been my favorite thus far this past year. A few months ago, I began venturing out from my comfort zone and began shopping the local mom-and-pop businesses instead of corporate chains. Even at Christmas, I participated in small business Saturday, shopping from the Square’s local shops. Aside from finding unique gifts, I experienced warm welcomes and cheerful conversations. Some of the shop owners even know me by name at this point. They ask about my family members and how I am doing, they compliment new hair styles and notice me as a person, not as just another customer coming and going.  

There’s something different about the experience when you shop local versus a major chain store. I always know what’s on the menu at the big restaurants, and I know what to expect at the big name clothing stores, but what I don’t find is the warmth and gratitude of the small places. You see, when you shop local and from a small business, you also support someone’s dream in that community. You are giving back to your fellow town citizens. There’s a coffee shop off the Square that was built on a woman’s dream, and you can tell it in her baked good and beverages. She offers the most amazing coffee and treats, and knows me as well by first name. These experiences are worth it to me, to perhaps pay a little more than the Wal-Mart or Starbucks, so that I can have the good experience. When you buy from a small business, you’re not helping a CEO buy a third vacation home, you’re helping a little girl get dance lessons, a little boy get his team jersey, or a mom and dad put food the table. You’re helping the community as well. When I shop small, I feel as though I am helping support the people who live around me. They had dreams and built upon those dreams, creating a business with the support of the town. I am not disparaging the big corporate stores. I just think that instead of allowing cities to be overrun by a huge business that has no connection to our town, maybe we can take back our community and provide more jobs by shopping with smaller businesses. My challenge to you is this – if you go out for lunch or want to shop for clothes, take a look at the local businesses around you. Try something new. Meet a store owner and just check out the difference. I think you’ll see such a vast difference in quality from customer service to the products they offer.