10 Reasons to Support Local Businesses This Weekend

Yeah, we are advocates for supporting local businesses, and it's that time of year.  Politicians are always talking about small businesses, so now it's time to back the rhetoric with your money.  Forget Black Friday, the real party is Small Business Saturday, and so we've created a quick list to highlight the best reasons for supporting your local bookstore (or other business).

Maria's Bookshop in Durango.
Who wouldn't want to shop here?

1. When you shop in a local bookstore you may actually meet the love of your life. You can’t meet the love of your life on Amazon (unless you’re browsing the small electronics). [On the other hand, the small electronics section does offer an alternate meaning for "stimulus package."]

 2. More than half the money you spend at a local shop stays in the local community. Comparatively, only 14% of what you spend at a chain stays local.  And if you're buying from that big online retailer who refuses to pay sales taxes? Yep, you hate your home town.

 3. It's just plain cool to be able to go in to a local store and demand to speak to the owner.  You can’t do that at Lowe's; we’ve tried.

Community.  That's what we're talking about.

 4. Fact: when you spend over $50 at BookPeople here in Austin, the head buyer comes down from her office and gives you a long tender hug.

5. Those local business people are supporting you too. It's a circle of life.  Hakuna Matata.

6. When you buy a gift for your mother and it's clear she hates it, you can take solace that she hates a gift that was purchased locally! And why is your mom so ungrateful? Geez.

Welcome to Blue Willow Bookshop.
Kids stuff on the left, adult books on the right,
friendly and helpful staff ready to assist in the middle.

 7. Still not convinced? Well maybe you’re forgetting that you can’t shoplift from Overstock.com, Amazon, or Half.com. You can however steal shit locally! [Don't steal. It hurts local businesses more than it hurts box store retailers. And it's illegal. And Gianna is notorious about promising bail money and then never showing up.]

8. Local stores offer cool things that you can't find elsewhere.  And unique merchandise is harder for your ungrateful brother who lives 1,000 miles away to return.

Square Books, Oxford, MS.
This is Main Street America.

9. We aren't above mocking you online and in person.  Shame is a powerful deterrent. 

10. Most importantly, shopping locally makes you less of a douche now, and gives you a little bit of rope to do something asinine later, like never chipping in on office birthday gifts or baby showers.