Copyright American Press
Shopping local during the holidays is vital for the local economy, supports community growth and character, and provides unique products with a personal touch that chain stores cannot match. Just ask Melissa Buxton. Bux Kajun Korner, a downtown Lake Charles market, was founded by Melissa and her husband, Todd, with the mission of blending the “old general store” and a modern convenience store while focusing on supporting local artists and vendors. “For us, we have more than 50 local vendors so you’re not just supporting Bux Kajun Korner, you have 52 other artists that you’re supporting, as well — and their families,” she said. Predominately made up of mom and pop shops, Buxton said downtown Lake Charles offers shopping with personalized service where customers are treated like family by the families who work there. “Right now, there are no franchises downtown; we’re all mom-and-pop shops, we are all here working our businesses every day — and not just us, but our kids, too,” she said. “You can catch Kate’s (Kate Cotton, owner of Cotton’s Downtown Grill) daughter home from college for the Christmas holidays and she may be pressing a burger or mopping a floor. “Four of my children have worked here at the Korner in the last four years and you’ll probably catch all of us working for Mardi Gras or Chuck Fest,” Buxton said. “Dave and Nan’s (Dave and Nanette Evans, owners of Luna Bar & Grill) daughters work with them. Right now, we have a very strong-knit, work-together group of businesses all trying to make downtown a better place.” And when their businesses do well the community, in turn, also thrives. Scott Walker, president and CEO of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, said the “local multiplier effect” is the idea that when money is spent at a locally owned business, more of that dollar stays in that community. “Local owners purchase goods and services from nearby suppliers, use local banks and accountants, advertise locally and reinvest profits close to home,” Walker said. Studies by groups such as the American Independent Business Alliance and BALLE suggest that for every dollar spent at a local business, about 43% more stays in the community compared to spending that same dollar at a national chain or online retailer, he said. “In simple terms, locally owned firms add the most back into the local economy — they create the strongest ripple effect,” Walker said. He said national retailers that own and operate brick-and-mortar locations in the community still provide value through local jobs, wages and taxes but more of their profits leave the area. Walker said online retailers have the least local impact, as almost none of the spending recirculates through local wages or services. “The more we can shift everyday purchases toward local businesses, the more our dollars work for us here at home. Shop small, shop local.” Walker said it’s also important to keep in mind that local business owners are far more than employers — they live here. “They are neighbors, mentors and civic leaders. They sponsor youth sports teams, contribute to local charities, serve on nonprofit boards and volunteer for community events. Their children attend local schools, they pay local taxes, and they take personal pride in the appearance and vitality of their neighborhoods.” That everyday investment, of time, resources, and heart, is what truly builds a community’s character,” he said. “When we support local entrepreneurs, we’re not just helping them succeed; we’re strengthening the very fabric of the place we call home.” Buxton said her shop isn’t about selling products, but building a community. “It’s a place where neighbors connect, local voices are celebrated and people feel part of something bigger than themselves,” she said. “That’s what makes it more than a store — it’s a heartbeat of the town.” ‘Love where you live’ The Small Business Administration reports there are more than 32.5 million small businesses in the United States, employing nearly half of all American workers and creating two out of every three new jobs. Studies consistently show that local spending produces two to three times more economic benefit for a community than money spent at non-local businesses, Walker said. “Locally, every dollar that stays here supports parish-level sales and property tax collections, funds public services, and contributes to stable home values and school funding,” he said. “Even our large industrial employers, while headquartered elsewhere, have become embedded in the local fabric providing some of the highest tax revenues, wages, and philanthropic contributions in the region. When residents and companies alike choose to buy local, the effect is a stronger, more self-sustaining economy.” Calcasieu Parish Administrator Dane Bolin, said sales taxes from local purchases also directly funds public services like parks, roads and emergency services. “In addition to parks and boat launches, we fund mosquito control, the Juvenile Justice Department, our health unit, animal services,” he said. “We provide those services that all go back to quality of life and keeping people in the area.” Local businesses also preserve the unique character and charm of Southwest Louisiana, Bolin said, and contribute to a stronger sense of community. “It’s all about loving where you live. I think we have to set the bar high for that so we encourage our businesses to come and then we make sure they have what they need to thrive and provide back to the community.” Shopping local The American Press is launching a new, eight-week editorial series, Shop Local for the Holidays, to highlight the unique social and cultural aspects of the community that local businesses help create. When shoppers choose to buy jewelry, artwork, books or candles at Bux Kajun Korner, they are doing more than crossing off a name on their shopping lists. They are helping sustain jobs, fund public services and ensure businesses in our area remain vibrant into the new year.
