This season of giving promises to be a challenge for many families. The commercial aspect of it is always bloated. The biggest and wealthiest advertisers go all out in every form of communication, radio, television, and social media. The numbers of consumers depending on online shopping, for all of their purchases, is growing. The number of customers going to shopping centers or small businesses near their communities has declined so much in these past years, that increased storefronts are empty. The social media presence has infiltrated daily life, so it makes it less convenient to leave the house to go to the store. Spending above and way beyond the family budget is encouraged by the easy access to buying on credit.
“Shop at Home” advertising and promotional campaigns continue to be essential in small towns. It still matters in lean years in the White River Valley to remain loyal to our neighbors. Their livelihoods often depend upon small businesses and the local Chamber of Commerce helps to keep these campaigns going throughout the year.
There is one shared bad habit by residents: complacency. The isolation and the distance required to drive to purchase needed items when they are not available in town has continued over all these years. In addition to everyone’s need to take a break from the small town to go out to dinner or see a movie, out-of-town trips for doctor or dentists visits continue. Residents continue to insist that they shop locally, yet low sales revenues report differently.
Years ago, not long after moving to Meeker, I noticed that we joined the folks leaving town regularly to visit family and friends, participate in sporting events, or to buy the family necessities that were not available here. Flying home gave us the opportunity to stock up on those items. It became impossible during the worst weather, so we found ourselves spending holidays at home.
It was during those early years I realized the importance of supporting all of the local businesses as much as I was able. Working part-time for the local newspaper, the Meeker Herald, I soon learned how vital having news reported weekly was to all of us living here.
Drumming up advertisers each week became more difficult throughout the years I worked there. Now in our era of the decline of newspapers in general, the weeklies are struggling mightily. Everyone is so used to reading their own locals and getting news regularly, that they forget how this one small business is suffering. They must assume that their monthly payment to keep their laptops, computers, and phones up and running each month covers it. Not a chance.
So, while counting those pennies this season, don’t forget to buy your subscription to the Rio Blanco Herald Times! It is worth every penny.
By dolly viscardi