What Business Are You Choosing To Support?

jyl · jyl's Garage

In these tough times, are you spending more at any particular business because you want to support them rather than others?

I'm doing it in one case. My friend owns a winery in Oregon, a small operation (1500 cases/year). He's not starving, single guy, everything is paid for, he can get through even with restaurant biz down. But I buy more wine from him than I might otherwise do, and it is partly to direct my dollars to someone local that I know rather than some agribusiness who doesn't know me from Adam (who's Adam?) plus all the $ goes to him, no middlemen (distributors, retailers).

Similar choices you're making?

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

I'm trying to keep PP going but I'm only one man!

Other than that I am trying to find more business for my parents Sign shop. It's starting to slow down for them.

jyl · jyl's Garage

If PP sold Vanagon parts I'd be sending Wayne plenty this year. Unfort I can only deal w/ one project at a time. The 911 is accumulating a lot of deferred needs that will get dealt with in mid-10 I think. The car has required no money in 4 years and that isn't going to continue.

stevepaa · 11-20-2009, 07:12 AM

Local family owned restaurants rather than chains. Their kids went to school with mine.

turbo6bar · 11-20-2009, 07:17 AM

Just spent beaucoup bucks on landscaping plantings. I wanted to support a local tree nursery, instead of the bigger yards that have everything shipped in. However, the local guy has been lax with his growing and didn't have the selection I needed. Buying local is always attractive for me, but the business has to be competitive. I can't let the 'buy local' mantra trump other factors. (shameless asskissing)That's why Pelican has gotten my business and will in the future. (/shameless asskissing).

As far as other things, I do agree: locally owned restaurants, tire shops, lumber yards, etc.

berettafan · 11-20-2009, 07:39 AM

bought tires for both dd's this year (about $1500 total) and used the very local tire shop vs. sams club. paid about $170 more in total but i know the owner and it helps me focus on the benefit of spending local.

LakeCleElum · 11-20-2009, 07:40 AM

*********** HOOTERS ***************

Serious - I'm just finishing building a house in a small town. Many hire contractors from the Seattle area (85 miles away).......If I can find someone reliable, I hire the local guys......I even buy from the guy at the local Radio Shack over my traditional Ebay habit at time. Basically, buy local if they don't bend me over...

targa911S · 11-20-2009, 07:49 AM

All local merchants. No trips to Lowes, HD or any other big box. We have tried to support Ma and Pa's here since we moved in. This is a small town that has been hard hit so we feel good doing what we can to help them out.

Laneco · 11-20-2009, 08:09 AM

I've switched bicycle shops and stopped buying bicycle bits on-line (though I would buy a screamin' deal used bike on-line).

I chose to support one bike shop instead of spreading my pitiful cash around. The shop I chose is run by a friend. Very family oriented shop. Years ago, her oldest son Nick drowned. It took search and rescue several days to find and retrieve him as he was caught in the spin underneath a small water fall. I think most people would have curled up and died at the site of someone using a hook taped to a pole to retrieve their sons body.

She didn't. It was the only way they could get him with the equipment they had. She started doing a bicycle race as a fund-raiser for Search and Rescue in Josephine county. Raised 130,000 to date... She has paid for most of the specialized equipment for swift water rescue, enclosed space rescue and even bought them a very nice military 6x6 for an operations command post.

I don't have alot of money to spend, but I'm spending it here and hoping it helps keep her around.

Cycle Analysis | Homepage

angela

Not a real good pic - but this is the 6x6 she bought, painted and outfitted for them.

Looking_for_911 · 11-20-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by targa911S

All local merchants. No trips to Lowes, HD or any other big box. We have tried to support Ma and Pa's here since we moved in. This is a small town that has been hard hit so we feel good doing what we can to help them out.

Doing basically the same with all merchants and in particular eating joints. My waistline is suffering but I'm doing my part!

Schumi · 11-20-2009, 11:21 PM

I'm incredibly selfish and support myself mostly in such hard economic times.

I find myself shopping more and more on the internet, and pitting internet site against internet site to find the bargain basement price on how cheap it will be to get an item to my door (cheap shipping people!)

I had some electronics gear for a project to order a few weeks ago... I could have payed $14 plus small shipping for the boards at at well known, older website that has a great community around it and great support (think Pelican for electronics doodlers) or I could buy the same part for $7 shipped off ebay. I got the ebay part, even though it took 2 weeks to get here and came from Hong Kong. It was worth the $7+ savings over the traditional store....