Anything But Local Is Loco!

EDITORIAL - by Eva Smith-Furgason - Monday, November 8, 2010 - Last week while running a few errands I overheard a conversation.

It went something like this:

Woman: "So what are you up to?"

Man: "I'm going early Christmas shopping in Duluth, going to make a day of it. What are you up to this weekend?"

Woman: "My boyfriend and I are going to Duluth to pick up some drywall to finish a project."

Man: "At Menards?"

Woman: "Yes."

Man: "Isn't Rhinelander closer?"

Woman: "We went to Rhinelander last week...(laugh) we're trying to spread the money around...besides Duluth has a Kohls!"

Man "oh, so it isn't just drywall, you're shopping...(laugh)"

I'm not usually one to eavesdrop, but since I was waiting I had no choice but to overhear their conversation. It took much willpower not to say - Wait a second! Have you thought about spreading the money where you live and work? Of course I managed to finish my business and walk out, but the conversation really stuck with me.

Some food for thought - when we spend our money in Rhinelander, Duluth, Wausau, Ashland etc - it makes an economic impact for those towns. It allows their merchants to prosper, their streets to be taken care of, their empty buildings filled, their unemployment lowered and their towns to flourish. It also allows new businesses to open and invest in their towns to serve their people. When your money leaves our town it may mean that your neighbor, who has been looking for a job locally will not find it because your money is working hard elsewhere.

For the past three years I have been running the Ironwood Christmas Bucks  promotion and I'm proud to say that I do the vast majority of my shopping in Ironwood. Our merchants have so much to offer, that for the most part I can find what I need. Does Ironwood have everything?

No, there are things you can't find here for a wide variety of reasons, but for the most part this town has a very nice selection of merchandise at a wide variety of price points. Many of the merchants will special order items they do not stock on a regular basis, and are more than happy to accommodate special requests. When more of our business goes to the local merchant and not to other towns or online sales - that's when our merchants have the confidence to invest here, to offer more products, to hire people and give back to our community. This Christmas - take a look around Ironwood, visit your local merchants, check out the Ironwood Christmas Bucks  page on Facebook for the latest specials, and make a point to visit at least three stores in our town that you haven't been to in a while - you might just be pleasantly surprised!

Get to know your local merchant - and remember "Every Dollar you spend is a vote on the kind of world you want to have" - Vote with your dollar for a prosperous Ironwood!