Editorial

Want to help the economy? Buy local

The Sherwood Gazette, Jul 29, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

In a recent analysis of businesses in mid-coast Maine, researchers found that three times as much money stayed in the local economy when residents turned away from big box retailers and bought their goods and services from locally owned businesses.

For every $100 spent at a big box store like Target, Wal-Mart or Home Depot, researchers discovered, that retailer put about $14 back into the local economy. On the flip side, spending $100 at a locally owned store pumped $45 back into the local economy.

The conclusion? If you want to help the local economy, you’ve got to be loyal – shop local, buy local, eat local.

Unfortunately, that’s not happening in Sherwood.

According to a local economic survey, undertaken as part of a partnership between the city and the Oregon Downtown Development Association, only 12 percent of respondents said they do most of their non-grocery shopping in downtown Sherwood. More than half said they do most of their shopping at Washington Square, where the majority of the stores are national retailers. More people in Sherwood did their shopping online or through a catalog than in their own downtown.

When asked what motivated their shopping choices, the majority of Sherwood residents said “selection and convenience.” Less than 30 percent of respondents cared about quality and just a handful said “loyalty” had anything to do with their choices.

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