Spending money on Main Street has major benefits for the local economy
By Andrew Harris
I’m not judging you if you are en route, or just leaving Best Buy or Kohl’s or the outlet stores. Let’s face it, consumerism has consumed us all. While that maybe, we have power in our purchases, the ability to choose where our money is spent.
Relative to our local economy, dollars spent Main Street have legs. First they generate sales tax which has become a powerful force in county economics. Because these dollars are spent in a small business, they are very likely to be passed along to other local businesses. Most locally owned small business owners and staff are dedicated local shoppers. That dollar you spend in “From the Hart” will walk over to “Brand Name Appliance” and owner Joe Holla will buy lunch for the crew at L’Italia. That dollar goes into the restaurateurs pocket and he runs over to “Hart’s Jewelry” to buy a Christmas surprise for his partner. Bill Hart, after having a hell of a Saturday in sales, treats the sales staff to a holiday drink at Better Days. The dollar hops into the bartenders tip bucket and they swing by Acapella Salon and buy a gift certificate. The dollar doesn’t even stop there.
Recycling dollars up and down Main Street is also much more rewarding than tapping the screen. Small business owners work hard on creating an experience, especially during the holiday shopping season. Product displays, lighting displays, the perfect shopping tunes, and don’t forget about the smells!! You can’t get any of that from a smartphone and you can avoid that dreaded “Walmart smell,” when it should be pot pouri or Northern Lights best holiday candle.
Wellsville’s Main Street, like every small town shopping district, has cast of original characters. The clerks, shop keepers, restaurant staff, bank tellers, and the window shoppers should not be discounted. Many of these folks have been doing business for decades, some with multiple generations of family ownership. That success is because they are very good at what they do, and they are fun folks to do business with. The smiles, small town chit-chat, and connections that span generations are key elements of all these small town businesses.
The swirling dollars, the totally unique shops, food that can’t be found anywhere else on the planet, and the satisfaction of stregthening our local economy. Even if you can’t make it to downtown Wellsville this weekend, please keep this shopping destination at the top of your list!!
