Dear Editor,
At the October meeting of the Leadership San Benito County class
of 2005, I and other class members visited local businesses. We
were tasked with interviewing prominent business owners about the
vitality of their business. Although a few of the businesses are
achieving some level of growth, the underlying theme was that our
local businesses are struggling.
Dear Editor,
At the October meeting of the Leadership San Benito County class of 2005, I and other class members visited local businesses. We were tasked with interviewing prominent business owners about the vitality of their business. Although a few of the businesses are achieving some level of growth, the underlying theme was that our local businesses are struggling.
We can all help to change that. When you have a shopping need, please take a minute to consider whether or not you can find what you’re looking for in town. Pick up the phone book; make a call, check to see if your item is available locally.
I’m as guilty as anyone. I am in Monterey to see clients at least once a week, and it’s so easy to zip into the mall, or the Seaside Center. But, I have vowed to shop locally when I can. There are times I have to make a conscious effort to check with local store owners before heading out of town.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised with what I’ve found, both in goods and customer service offered.
You can go out of town, or you can take an extra fifteen minutes to see if Dorothy McNett’s has a nice platter or Boutique De Lingerie has some other goody that will please a special someone. Or, might one of the gift shops or clothing stores have what you need? The prices may NOT be higher because it’s a smaller store – you never know until you check. And the service you receive will most likely far outweigh what the larger stores offer. It’s worth a try to give our local merchants first shot at our business.
If you don’t want our downtown to be a ghost town – then shop IN town.
Bette Grace, Hollister
