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Home > Archive > Apr 3, 2008

Keeping Our Shopping Dollars Working Locally
By Gil Almquist
St. George City Councilman
Several months ago, my son and I found ourselves stuck shopping with my wife and daughters. To pass the time in an otherwise totally female store, we decided to check out manufacturers’ labels to see where each article of clothing or accessory was made.
It amazed us to find not only a wide variety of countries represented but also that the only thing made in the United States was one leather belt. My son’s comment was, “We can’t seem to make anything here.”
I have often thought since then about how much money leaves our country and thereby adds to the tremendous trade deficit the U.S. experiences with foreign countries. The last time the U.S. had a trade surplus was in 1976, ironically, our bicentennial year.
In 2007, the U.S. trade deficit was almost $712 billion – an improvement over 2006, but still a staggering number when compared to our manufacturing and selling glory years in the past.
Let me bring this into a local perspective.
Our local merchants offer many of the goods that we buy. Our purchases include sales tax, and a portion of that tax is returned to our city government’s general fund. These funds are then used for public safety, services and general welfare. When we shop locally, we add to these funds and to our own well-being. By not shopping locally, we send our tax dollars out of town. Similarly, we create a trade deficit between our local economy and the economy somewhere else.
In an excellent article found on southernutah.com, Joe Christopher says it in a nutshell: By shopping locally, “we make an unbroken circle of dollars flowing through our local economy.”
Granted, we all shop where we think we are getting the best deal for our time and money, but if we ask ourselves a few questions, we just might find our local businesses to be just as competitive.
1. How much will I truly save by shopping out of town? (Consider gas and time.)
2. Have I given a local business the chance to compete? Share the price you have found for the same item elsewhere. Give a local business the chance to match the price or offer a substitute.
3. Have I searched the Internet to help find products locally? (www.yokel.com or www.shoplocal.com, for example)
4. Have I used the talents and services of the local Chamber of Commerce to find stores that would satisfy my needs?
5. Have I considered the fact that local purchases employ local people and help my own economy?
There is no doubt that leaving town, seeing new places and buying unique gifts is exciting and fun. However, driving hundreds of miles, fighting traffic, running around from store to store to save 10 percent on a set of towels is not exciting, fun or cost effective.
Southern Utah has been very successful in attracting more national shopping opportunities from large corporations, and a small portion of the sales tax you pay at these stores does help our local general fund. However, please don’t forget our locally owned businesses that have unique quality products to satisfy any shopper.
We can thank the local Chamber of Commerce for its promotion of local businesses, the Washington County Economic Development Council for attracting value-added companies, our local governments and civic organizations for sponsoring incredible events, and the visual and performing arts that attract shopping dollars and provide incredible and diverse entertainment. We can all find purchases locally that satisfy our needs and help fulfill our lives.
I dropped into a small quilt shop on 100 West some time ago. My few purchases included some handmade items not to be found anywhere else. Indeed, it made me think of my previous shopping experience with my son in the clothing store, where only one belt was made in the USA. Only this time, nearly everything was made in the USA.
I left feeling good knowing I had helped both our national and local trade deficit to decrease ever so slightly.
My dollars stayed right here, working hard for friends, neighbors and family.

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