By now you have no doubt seen some ads ahead of online retailers ramping up their summer merchandising. While some of those so-called bargains may look too good to pass up, we are going to ask you to think long and hard about where, why, and how you choose to spend your hard-earned dollars. If you’re looking for something specific, is an online purchase the only way to get it? Have you checked with local small businesses first? Do local small businesses carry similar products? Can you walk into a local store – even if it’s a national chain – and purchase the same thing? Or maybe they can order it for you?

When you shop in a local store you are supporting our local economy. The money you spend locally goes back into our community in the form of wages to local employees, profits for local owners, rent for local landlords, and more. Those funds then get distributed even further in our community when employees send their kids to dance class, when owners support local youth sports programs, and when building owners hire landscapers. These are just examples of some of the ways those local expenditures are returned to our community. Even when you make a purchase from a chain store locally, some of that money comes back into our community in these ways. The local economic margin is higher when you buy from a locally owned store or restaurant since none of those profits get funneled up into a major corporation. One study in 2019 showed that local retailers return 52 percent of their revenue back into the local economy, compared to just 14 percent for national chain retailers. Remember, if you simply buy online from a national retailer, the local economic return is zero. Money that circulates through our local economy benefits every individual who may have had any role in that transaction.

There are other benefits from shopping locally too. You may get to know the owners or employees personally, and once they understand your taste, they can assist you better. Locally owned shops can often order merchandise you may be seeking. Sometimes even the merchandise you’re buying at a locally owned shop has been locally made. For the consumer, these are all extraordinary benefits that you may not ordinarily consider. You can get outstanding customer service when a store owner knows you and may be able to directly order the items you’re seeking. For example: local bookstores can order just about any reading material you may want, and local florists go out of their way to source just the right flowers for your arrangement.

You can also support local businesses through your purchase of ShopLocalCHQ Gift Cards through the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber does not take a cut on gift card sales so all of your purchase price can go back into the more than 170 local businesses that participate in the program. Last year more than $50,000 was spent with local merchants through the program, and that is a positive move towards supporting small businesses.

Each purchase you make from a small locally owned store or restaurant not only benefits our local economy, but it maintains our very important sense of place. It’s the small businesses in a community that create our quality of life and an environment that visitors choose to patronize.

Chamber Congressional Breakfast is July 21

Please join us for the annual Chamber Federal Congressional Breakfast with our guest, Representative Nick Langworthy. We invite you to come prepared with questions for your congressman. This event will be held Friday, July 21, at Shorewood Country Club, 4958 West Lake Road, Dunkirk. Pre-registration is required. The price for breakfast is $25 for Chamber members or $29 for non-members. The Congressional Breakfast is sponsored by Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Brooks-TLC Hospital System/Kaleida Health, Chautauqua Institution, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, Jamestown Community College, Media One Radio Group, National Grid, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal. Sign up now through our web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.

Chamber Seeks Award Nominations

Each year the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce proudly presents its Economic Development Award and Person of the Year Award at our Annual Awards Banquet in October. You have a chance now to nominate an organization or individual for these awards! We have posted an easy to use form online at www.chautauquachamber.org/award-nomination-form for your convenience.

The Economic Development Award is presented to a company or organization that has contributed most to the economic development, quality of life, and stability of our region.

The Person of the Year Award is presented to an individual who is recognized by the entire region for his/her outstanding achievements and impact, either within the past year or throughout their entire life. This is a special person who obviously “stands out” and would be immediately recognized as a leader. Their contribution can be through efforts in business, community service, political leadership, charitable service, or other areas of interest.

We encourage you to consider the criteria presented above and submit a nomination for one, or both, of these award categories. Nominations must be received by July 14. All nominations will be reviewed by the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Early Bird Special Available for Chamber Golf Tournament

Register now and take advantage of the Early Bird Special for the Chamber’s Annual Golf Tournament, August 17 on the spectacular Upper Course at Peek’n Peak Resort in Clymer. The Early Bird Price is just $185 per golfer, and it includes lunch, snacks, beverages, and dinner as well as cart and golf fees. Par sponsors for this year’s Golf Tournament are Brooks-TLC Hospital System/Kaleida Health, Chautauqua Patrons Insurance Company, Community Bank, N.A., Dahlstrom Roll Form, DFT Communications, Jamestown Community College, Jamestown Container Companies, Jamestown Mattress Company, Jamestown Plastics, Inc., Koester Associates, Lake Shore Savings Bank, National Grid, Nestle Purina PetCare, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, R & R Property Services & Landscaping, Shults Auto Group, and Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union. Early bird registration is available until July 17. You can sign up now on the Chamber’s web calendar.