Do You Buy Local?

by Jennifer Pierce
President, Montgomery Business Association
Co-Owner, Jersey Fresh Photos

Ever since MBA/ShopLocalMontgomery formed in the fall of 2010, I have probably said "68 cents of every dollar spent in a Montgomery owned business stays in Montgomery" a thousand times, followed by "we, as a community, have the power to grow our own local economy from the ground up - Shop Local Montgomery." I have said it to children, teens, seniors, and business owners, and have said it at the farmers' market, the rodeo, the fireworks, kids functions, business meetings-- you name it. The point is: my message, the Shop Local Montgomery message, carries a lot of weight. But, even though I talked the talk, I had to work at changing my purchasing behavior. It took a while for me to walk the walk.

As members of MBA, we have the power to grow the economic strength of our business community. We all need products and services. We have needs for our computers, websites, bookkeeping, legal services, families, pets, cars, and even social lives.  Our businesses have needs as well, and while not all can be fulfilled locally, some of them certainly can. By making a concerted effort to reach out to fellow members about the goods and services that they offer, we are at the very least learning what our neighbors do.  

Start with a simple email or phone call. By reaching out, we learn what our fellow members have to offer. If their services don't fit our own needs, we might know another business or family member that would be a perfect fit. Good referrals help, and are appreciated, by givers and receivers. If each of us approaches a new connection with a thought of "how can I help this person," it soon becomes an automatic part of our behavior. This thought process alone will help to create a ripple effect of businesses helping fellow businesses, and will help to promote the shop local initiative.

Frank and I joined MBA to grow Jersey Fresh Photos in our local market. We felt that by being involved with MBA and the Shop Local initiative would give us the chance to build relationships with local businesses. Those relationships would then lead to Jersey Fresh Photos being included in discussions of photography needs. This has worked for us. In return, we've had the opportunity to refer many people to MBA members who all do incredible work in their fields. Some of the benefits that we have experienced by working with fellow members are: our pets are markedly healthier (9 yr. old lab the most) because of the knowledge gained and products we purchased from Mike Growney atUtopia for Pets; our cars are well tended to for a fair price by Kip Higgins at Belle Mead Garage; 1st Constitution gives the most incredible service; Rocky Hill Inn is a wonderful host for our socials and the ONLY destination for the best NJ burger; Radiation Data is keeping radon out of my family's home; gifts for family, friends, clients (and myself) have come from Steele's Wine Cellar, Robinson's Chocolates, Nonesuch Framing and Jewelry, Village Shoes andTigers Tale; and I have to give Lorette Pruden of Team Nimbus the credit for our New Jersey growth. Her guidance helped us change our NYC corporate mentality to more of a small business focus. Now we enjoy success in both markets. Our fellow members and other local businesses do so much for us. We hope that what we offer is beneficial to you all as well.  

So, I am making a plea to you all. Think about each other in your daily routine--business and personal. Let us grow and strengthen the economy together. Let's all walk the walk.