Donation Nation Inc.: Buying Local is Buying Green

This Thursday through Friday, like every Black Friday, will test your patience, perseverance, and gumption as you scour stores for deals and bargains this upcoming Thanksgiving Day weekend. Many of you might even have plans set forth of which stores you will be going to, or even a detailed list of items you plan on purchasing. While admirable, we both know that your comprehensive plan will go out the window the moment you arrive at the first store, it is just how it is. Trust me, I have tried one year to go with a plan, and somehow I came out with a blender. To be fair, this was not just any blender, it was the NINJA, with 5 throwing star blades, a Mustang engine of torque, and sold previously on infomercials for four easy payments of $29.95. Nonetheless, I went in for some blue-rays and came out with an assassin.

Whether you believe or view Black Friday as a representation of everything that is wrong with the United States, or perhaps you just enjoy the chaos, sales, and bargains. There is a simple message that should be disseminated before you go out this upcoming Thanksgiving Day Weekend and holiday season; BUY GREEN, and BUY LOCAL!

Black Friday is a day in which you will most likely spend your hard earned money, but you need to know that Your dollar has the power to change industries, market shares, and corporate behaviors. What I am talking about is being conscious of where you spend your money. To make Montgomery County Maryland and sustainable green community, it begins with being mindful of what your dollar is supporting and making sure that your money goes back into your local community.

National corporations and businesses spend millions of dollars each year to attract you to their stores every holiday season, able to grab your attention with great deals and a designed marketing plan to get you to go into their stores to buy blue-rays and come out with an assassin. Where does the money go? While a portion goes to local employees, a majority of those sales either goes to corporate in another state or even another country. A Majority of the profits does not go into our community!

According to a Hufington Post article, “Why Buying Local is Worth Every Cent” by Michael Salguero, buying local generates 70 percent more local activity than buying from big box retailers. Spending 100 dollars at an independent business, equates to 68 dollars in local economic activity, while 100 dollars spent at a corporate chain translates to 48 dollars transferred to the local economy! Corporations are about profit, about maximizing returns to their investors; its why wages are lower at national franchises than they are at local independent stores. You see, buying local means you are supporting a business that is in your community and understands the struggles of your city or county. Small Businesses know that a wage of 7 dollars cannot put food on your table; It is why local businesses are more likely to choose environmentally friendly alternatives even if they are not the most cost-effective. The equation of buying local is simple, purchasing local from independent stores equals more money circulated, which means more jobs are created, and more tax revenue is collected for infrastructure and safety net expenditures.

While buying local increase revenue for the community, it is also green. When you choose to buy local, you are cutting down on emissions from transport, packaging, and processing! You are selecting a product that is more likely to be more durable, better quality and better service. Now, I am sure that most of you already know what stores you are going to, and what you will be buying, but I want you to rethink, be creative and “Gift Outside The Box.”

The Department of Energy is encouraging individuals to “Gift Outside The Box” by being conscious of your environmental footprint as the holiday season progresses, and look for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle! Be creative! Gift an experience, support a local artist or business, and give back to your community. Volunteer, donate money or resources, support businesses who implement green practices and products. Montgomery County and the Department of energy have made it easy for you, they already have an established list of green certified businesses, and have even come up with great ways to buy local and change the experience of this holiday season; your gift can be more meaningful than a blender. Go to Gift Greener page on the DEP website, and view their fantastic gift ideas and processes of making this holiday season as green as possible!

Remember, where you spend your money matters.