If consumers support local businesses, it supports local development and the money stays in the community. The owners of those businesses, in turn, spend the money they have earned locally supporting other local businesses. This causes expansion of the local businesses and creating more employment which keeps more young people in the work force instead of exporting them to bigger centers.

This may inspire others to open unique shops offering more services to the citizens of Oliver. Then, you have a one-of-a-kind shopping experience instead of the run-of-the-mill one. Take a look at other communities that have successfully made local shopping an attraction and one may see there are benefits to shopping locally.

Shopping local can be more expensive because these stores don’t have the buying power of a “big box store.” But as the community grows, it will attract these money-saving places. Oliver already has! Has it affected the local economy? Yes, it has built upon it. The addition of these stores has made local businesses more unique and interesting.

So you aren’t necessarily saving a “buck”; look at what you’re saving: time! It takes time to go and find that deal and even to cross the border. By the time you drive down there and back, or even to Penticton, you have spent at least an hour on the road, losing precious time that could have been put toward your project and give you more free time. Who doesn’t want free time to kick back and relax instead of spending time driving?

You are also saving fuel. With fuel being as expensive as it is, who doesn’t want to cut that cost? By reducing the need for fuel, one can reduce his/her carbon footprint.

By supporting local businesses, the community of Oliver will thrive and expand. Canada, in general, can learn from this. We, as a country, need to be supporting Canadian businesses, but let’s start with building our local economy. Think of it as an investment instead of throwing away money.

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Thanks Deanna…we need more support…we had a great night at Medici’s for a fundraiser fashion show…it showcased all the local businesses…it was wonderful and well attended…thanks to all the ladies…for tonight and going forward…  Maureen Doerr

~~Deanna seen in picture with her boss Tracy. Footnote – Deanna is off to Grand Forks soon to further her music-teaching career.