New Thinking For A New Age
Many Snowmass residents are changing their thinking and coming to the conclusion that it makes a BIG DIFFERENCE where they spend their dollars. In this age of ever-present advertising by big-box stores and internet shopping sites, one can easily be fooled into thinking that the only criterion that matters is “How cheaply can I buy this?”
If living in a great community is important to you, you might consider adding these criteria when shopping or buying services:
- What can I do to protect the small town character of Snowmass?
- What can I do to improve the shopping and dining experiences in Snowmass?
- What kind of a town do I wish to live in?
Reasons Why Shopping Local Is Important
Reasons Specific to Snowmass
Your Well-Being!
Why do you shop/dine/buy services locally? Please send us an email with your thoughts. Steve@SundanceWine.com
When You Dine Local…
You help our local restaurants stay in business, increase their offerings, and stay open longer into the “off-season.” This has the extra benefit of improving our guests’ experience when they come to Snowmass.
When You Shop Local…
You boost the local retail ecosystem. Better stores, more selection, longer hours. In several recent guest surveys, they mention that the weakest link in the Snowmass experience is the “shopping experience.”
When You Buy Local Services…
Carpet cleaning? Painting? Bookkeeping? Think local first. For all the “Reasons According to AMIBA” listed on this page, spending money with your friends and neighbors pays dividends in multiple ways.
Support of Local Non-Profits
Local businesses like Sundance contribute tens of thousands of dollars of goods and services to our local non-profits. How much does your favorite liquor outlet in Gypsum contribute to local non-profits?
Encourage Local Businesses
to offer “Local Deals”
Small businesses respond quickly to customer feedback. If special offers for locals create additional shoppers/diners, these will increase!
Sales Tax?
Yes, the sales tax rate is high in Snowmass (10.4%). But you receive DIRECT BENEFITS from the sales tax you pay locally; bus service, police services, flowers in the roundabout… and much more. How much benefit do you receive from the 6% sales tax you pay in Denver?
Reasons According to AMIBA
The American Independent Business Alliance® (AMIBA) is a national organization that researches and publicizes the greater overall value that local independents provide as well as the vital economic, social and cultural role independent businesses play in the community. More info at Amiba.net
BUILD COMMUNITY!
The casual encounters you enjoy at neighborhood–scale businesses and the public spaces around them build relationships and community cohesiveness. (source 1, source 5) They’re the ultimate social networking sites!
STRENGTHEN YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY!
Each dollar you spend at independent businesses returns 3 times more money (source 2) to your local economy than one spent at a chain (hundreds of times more than buying from an online mega-retailer) — a benefit we all can bank on.
SHAPE OUR CHARACTER!
Independent businesses help give your community its distinct personality.
CREATE A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT!
Independent, community-serving businesses are people-sized. They typically consume less land, carry more locally-made products, locate closer to residents and create less traffic and air pollution. (source 3)
LOWER TAXES!
More efficient land use and more central locations mean local businesses put less demand on our roads, sewers, and safety services. They also generate more tax revenue per sales dollar. The bottom line: a greater percentage of local independent businesses keeps your taxes lower. (source 4)
CHOICES!
A wide variety of independent businesses, each serving their customers’ tastes, creates greater overall choice for all of us.
CREATE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES!
Not only do independent businesses employ more people directly per dollar of revenue, they also are the customers of local printers, accountants, wholesalers, farms, attorneys, etc., expanding opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY!
Small businesses donate more than twice as much per sales dollar to local non-profits, events, and teams compared to big businesses. (source 5)
INCREASE WEALTH OF RESIDENTS!
The multiplier effect created by spending locally generates lasting impact on the prosperity of local organizations and residents. (source 6)
ENHANCE LOCAL DEMOCRACY!
Local ownership of business means residents with roots in the community are involved in key development decisions that shape our lives and local environment.
ENHANCE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS!
Research shows a strong correlation between the percentage of small locally-owned firms and various indicators of personal and community health and vitality. (source 7)
To view the sources quoted, see Amiba.net
