Page 32 - BusinessWest November 10, 2021

It’s a business community, like others across the U.S., that has been ravaged by the pandemic and the economic turmoil that has followed in the wake of COVID-19 — and those challenges have not ended, which is why Cole says it’s critical to support locally owned businesses over national chains and online retailers this holiday season, and beyond.
“We should all eat, shop, and hire local,” he said, citing some statistics to back up that thought. “It’s very, very simple: when you take $100 and spend it at a local business, up to $69 stays in the community. When you spend $100 on Amazon, none of it stays in your community.”
Even shopping at a local big-box store returns just $43 of that $100 to the commu- nity, he noted.
“The bottom line is, when your money stays local, it helps things like police and fire departments, and sports teams, which are always sponsored by some local business. And it’s better for the environment because you’re not shipping stuff all over the place. Basically, everyone wins. That’s what it comes down to.”
Claudia Pazmany, president of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, agreed, noting that local retailers offer unique, often hand- made gifts that stand out from what can be purchased on Amazon.
“This is a time when we have to look inside and say, ‘I want to support local businesses,’” she said. “People often say they support local, but can you really say you do?”
To help shoppers come to that decision,
the Amherst Area Chamber has developed an economic-stimulus initiative to support local businesses through a gift-card match pro- gram. The gift cards can be used at many local businesses, and two chamber members have each donated $5,000 to a gift-card match. Thus, beginning on Nov. 15, each $25 gift card purchased will be doubled in value to $50, thanks to these donations.
“That will translate into a $20,000 reinvestment in our small-business community,” Pazmany said, adding that the Amherst Business Improve- ment District is bringing back its red-ticket event, and for every $25 gift card purchased, the buyer will receive two red tickets toward a cash drawing on Dec. 18.
Again, it’s a win-win for shoppers and local businesses, she said, noting that restaurant gift cards make good holiday gifts as well.
he added, more people have become aware of the need to support their area retailers, restau- rateurs, artisans, and others.
“Any restaurant, smaller retailer, event business, these are segments of the economy that had the crap kicked out of them really, really badly, and they’re still struggling,” he told BusinessWest. “Even if they got help with PPP and all the things available to the small-
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$100 and spend it at a local business, up to $69 stays in the community. When you spend $100 on Amazon, none of it stays in your community.”
It’s very, very simple: when you take
“Let’s make an effort. Restaurants haven’t opened to full capacity because of staffing. We’re not there yet. That’s the big message
I’d like to send — we’re not out of this by any means. A lot more support is needed, and the best way to do it is to buy local during the holidays.”
Cole said the pandemic has certainly made things tougher for businesses, but many were already feeling the crunch of online and big- box sales before COVID arrived. Fortunately,
business owner, it wasn’t easy to begin with. Some of these people may not recover.
“On a more positive note,” he added, “those people who will recover are awesome entrepreneurs. They know when to pivot and change and do things that make a difference.”
And they deserve the community’s sup- port to keep pivoting and keep rebounding, Cole added. “Certainly, that’s what Living Local is going to do. We want to be 100% behind that.” u
— Joseph Bednar
BILL COLE
32 NOVEMBER 10, 2021
LOCAL GIFT GUIDE
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