The number of retail sales versus online sales in the United States is slipping markedly, which threatens a huge sector of workers. Monroe, New Glarus and other communities in our area have created retail-friendly communities to help boost commerce in local shops, but the best way to ensure these jobs remain protected is for consumers to adopt a "buy local" attitude.
The Wisconsin Public Radio show Studio 1A on Wednesday focused on how online shopping is hurting brick-and-mortar retail shops. While we don't have a "mall," the concept of a mall is molded on the theory of a "town square" - and we certainly have a well-designed and thought-out square in Monroe. There is a strong retail presence on the Square, along with restaurants and service-oriented businesses. The business community is supported by a proactive Chamber of Commerce, the Wisconsin Main Street Program and the Green County Development Corporation.
All of these institutions work together to ensure Monroe's Square - all local business - is thriving. People should know how easy it is to park on the Square, walk from store to store and do all of the holiday shopping necessary for a family. Our retailers offer a wonderful holiday ambiance - the music in the Square is coupled with attractive holiday decorating. Local retailers also offer the all-important service of gift wrapping.
America has approximately 16 million people employed in retail sales. Retail jobs in Green County are an important part of the economy for all goods sold. Monroe's Square is a must-stop destination for holiday shoppers, but don't ignore the city's west side, which is home to many local retailers for electronics, engine-powered equipment, furniture - just an endless amount of sought-after goods. Don't forget, locally purchased items are backed up by local service.
One thing forgotten when a person buys a gadget online is the notion of "where do I go with this if it breaks or doesn't work?" Will an online retailer stand behind its sale in the same hassle-free way that a local retailer will? Likely you'll be shipping the gadget back to the store after making a series of communications arranging transport. From the retailer it has to be shipped to the manufacturer. When will you get it back? Sometimes not soon. These questions are confronted by online shoppers every year.
Important in this conversation is the good a dollar spent locally does versus a dollar spent online. Money spent in our stores support local business owners, who provide local jobs, and these employees provide local volunteerism, pay local taxes and also support subsidiary businesses. A dollar spent locally can change hands many times. Our agricultural community can thrive if people make a commitment to shop locally. What happens to that dollar as soon as you click "buy" online? It virtually disappears from the community unless you're shopping on the website for a local store.
We're not bashing businesses that have their livelihood set on catalogue, telephone or online sales, such as our own Swiss Colony. Swiss Colony is marketing locally made products to be shipped anywhere. We want to make it clear that we're talking about the purchase of products online that could be just as easily purchased closer to home.
Please make as great of a commitment as possible this holiday shopping season to spend dollars locally. For those who haven't done much retail shopping in our communities, you'll be surprised at the variety of goods and services offered. The dollars you spend locally will remain, to a great extent, local, which is good for all of us and our neighbors.
The Wisconsin Public Radio show Studio 1A on Wednesday focused on how online shopping is hurting brick-and-mortar retail shops. While we don't have a "mall," the concept of a mall is molded on the theory of a "town square" - and we certainly have a well-designed and thought-out square in Monroe. There is a strong retail presence on the Square, along with restaurants and service-oriented businesses. The business community is supported by a proactive Chamber of Commerce, the Wisconsin Main Street Program and the Green County Development Corporation.
All of these institutions work together to ensure Monroe's Square - all local business - is thriving. People should know how easy it is to park on the Square, walk from store to store and do all of the holiday shopping necessary for a family. Our retailers offer a wonderful holiday ambiance - the music in the Square is coupled with attractive holiday decorating. Local retailers also offer the all-important service of gift wrapping.
America has approximately 16 million people employed in retail sales. Retail jobs in Green County are an important part of the economy for all goods sold. Monroe's Square is a must-stop destination for holiday shoppers, but don't ignore the city's west side, which is home to many local retailers for electronics, engine-powered equipment, furniture - just an endless amount of sought-after goods. Don't forget, locally purchased items are backed up by local service.
One thing forgotten when a person buys a gadget online is the notion of "where do I go with this if it breaks or doesn't work?" Will an online retailer stand behind its sale in the same hassle-free way that a local retailer will? Likely you'll be shipping the gadget back to the store after making a series of communications arranging transport. From the retailer it has to be shipped to the manufacturer. When will you get it back? Sometimes not soon. These questions are confronted by online shoppers every year.
Important in this conversation is the good a dollar spent locally does versus a dollar spent online. Money spent in our stores support local business owners, who provide local jobs, and these employees provide local volunteerism, pay local taxes and also support subsidiary businesses. A dollar spent locally can change hands many times. Our agricultural community can thrive if people make a commitment to shop locally. What happens to that dollar as soon as you click "buy" online? It virtually disappears from the community unless you're shopping on the website for a local store.
We're not bashing businesses that have their livelihood set on catalogue, telephone or online sales, such as our own Swiss Colony. Swiss Colony is marketing locally made products to be shipped anywhere. We want to make it clear that we're talking about the purchase of products online that could be just as easily purchased closer to home.
Please make as great of a commitment as possible this holiday shopping season to spend dollars locally. For those who haven't done much retail shopping in our communities, you'll be surprised at the variety of goods and services offered. The dollars you spend locally will remain, to a great extent, local, which is good for all of us and our neighbors.
