Support local businesses and help keep Weiser’s economy moving

By: 
Mayor Randy Hibberd
One of the great things about Christmas is the after-effects of the gifts that are given. 
 Our oldest grandson, who is not quite 10 years old, received a Legos roller coaster set from Santa that was designed for 14 years plus. Each time we go to his house we get to see the progress being made. He isn’t daunted by the challenge of projects that are supposed to be above his age level. In fact, I think he rather enjoys it. And that is fun to watch!
 In the meantime, I am working on a jigsaw puzzle Cathy gave me of a map of the Hawaiian island of Maui. Usually, I can put a five-hundred-piece puzzle together in an evening or at the most two evenings. A thousand-piece puzzle usually takes about four. This one is about a thousand pieces, but it is all surrounded by blue. You know how you put together the sky in a puzzle last because it is the most difficult? Try a puzzle where the “sky” surrounds the picture and there aren’t even any clouds to break it up. This puzzle may take a while. 
 I don’t know about you, but I always feel a little shopped out after Christmas. I want to put as little effort into buying something as I can. With that in mind, it is sooooo easy to just go online and have whatever shipped directly to the house.
 However, I would strongly encourage all of us to resist this urge. 
 One of the things that makes Weiser sooooo special is the sense of community we enjoy here. We like going to sports games, or social events, or the store and seeing people we know. We like the support shown to people who experience tragedy where the community comes together to show support. A perfect example of that good community feeling was last year when we came together and retired the debt on the Senior Citizens Center.
 Well, one of the “anchors” that holds a community together are the people who have chosen to stake their future in the community by having a business venture in town. Businesses provide many of the amenities that make life a little easier and pleasant. Very few people in Weiser want to live in a city like Boise where everything is right at your fingertips. But we do like not having to drive out of town to get gas, buy groceries, get a bite to eat, get something to decorate the house, buy a gift, or even get plumbing parts (ugh).
 One of the advantages of supporting local businesses is that the service received is much more pleasant and personable. People you know or at least are used to seeing regularly are usually much more willing to go out of their way to help you. I have learned a ton of information, especially about home repair, just by shopping locally. 
 Supporting local businesses means helping to support local jobs. People having jobs means that more businesses can be supported. More businesses being supported means more amenities to make life a little easier and a little more pleasant. It all goes in a circle.
 Sometimes I hear that shopping locally tends to cost more. However, when you think of the cost of gas and wear and tear on vehicles or the cost of shipping, there is not much difference.
 Sure, there are times when you check locally, and something isn’t available. By all means go where you need to. But, just like shopping in Weiser is better than online, shopping in our area is better for the local economy than shopping online. Shopping online does not benefit the local economy except for the miniscule amount of sales tax that comes back to us.
 This time of year, is usually a little slower for businesses just because the holidays are over. Many of the smaller businesses operate on a very small margin. And so, this time of year can be very tight because of the lower sales volumes. So please, do the local business owners, yourself, and your community a favor by shopping local first.
 Well, that’s it for this week. I hope to see you at the store! Weiser really is a great place to live, work, and play!
 

Category:

Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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