Where you take your business is a matter of choice

Things have really changed in the past 50 years when it comes to stores and how we shop at them. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, when you wanted something, you went to town to shop. We could get some things in our local town of Arthur, Nebraska, which had a population of 150. The next closest town was Ogallala, Nebraska, which had a population around 4,500. Ogallala was 42 miles from home.

There were plumbing shops, leather shops, hardware stores, grocery stores, restaurants, etc., in Ogallala. You bought what you thought you needed, along with a little extra just in case. Then you drove the 42 miles home, hoping you had what you needed.

Now we can sit down at a computer and search for what we need online. We can find the exact part, the part number and description, what it will cost including shipping and, possibly, whether there are any locally. We can go to one of the "they-have-everything" stores, and most likely, they will have it. It is our choice. But this choice brings up some interesting decisions that, in turn, have consequences.

I need some hose clamps to use in my garden, but I also need some 3/4-inch plastic fittings. Most likely our local hardware store will have them, but they probably will cost more than a big department store in Cape Girardeau or Jackson.

Why buy local when it will save money to buy from the big box stores? I need a pair of work shoes. I can go to a handful of smaller mom-or-pop shoe stores, or I can go to the bigger "wonder-who-owns-it" store and maybe save a few dollars. The small local stores can't compete with the big stores when it comes to prices alone.

Many a man, teen and child has walked into Evert Holder's shop in Illmo and gotten their hair cut. There are barbers in Chaffee and Cape Girardeau and probably Marble Hill and so on. Most of our local towns have their own grocery stores. Prices are competitive. Many of these are employee-owned. But even in larger communities such as Cape and Jackson, there are smaller independent stores or mom-and-pop stores.

Most of our communities have smaller independent hardware stores, where you can walk in and talk to the owners. Years ago, when we first went to Lambert's, the owner might actually bring around handouts.

My hometown of Arthur still publishes a newspaper called the Arthur Enterprise. My wife's hometown of Hyannis still publishes one as well. It's called the Grant County News. Some grumble about the Southeast Missourian as far as the cost or content, but one can still go to church with the owners, and they will visit with you. I know who they are. When enough of us decide to quit taking the paper for whatever reason, the publishers will quit printing the paper, and then it will be no more. Sad!

Really,where we shop is our choice. We can buy from the big stores or national chain stores. But when we do, our business no longer supports the mom- and-pop stores in our local towns.

And if enough of us fail to support the local businesses, they eventually will shut their doors. When I need a board or an ice box, I can walk into stores in Kelso, and Kennie or Ray or Mark or Steve -- who all own stores in Kelso -- may end up waiting on me. I like that.

There has been a push for years for all of us to "Buy American." I like to buy American-made products. But I also like to know who owns the shop that I'm shopping at. Who owns this shop or store? Who owns this car dealership, and are they here today? If I walk into a sewing-machine store, will the owner be there, and can I talk to them? When I sit down to order fish, is the owner helping prepare it in the kitchen? If I want to buy a new guitar, will the owner be there and be ready to help me?

These are just my thoughts on this topic. There are exceptions, and all kinds of different situations. And you may think I'm all wet as well and disagree with me, but that is one of the freedoms we all celebrate. As for me, I'll continue to shop the small "know-the-owner" stores.

Until next time.