I don't know where the idea came from, but I like it.
Today we're encouraged to make a special effort to do business with the mom-and-pop small merchants instead of the giant national big-box retailers in our area. The trick is to find one. I don't know how things are in smaller towns or rural areas, but here in the Big City they're becoming as rare as hen's teeth.
Back in the late 1950's-early '60's when I was in my "yout" that's pretty much all we had. Mom bought her dresses at Stern's, while I was outfitted by Ken's Mans Shop and The Varsity Shop. Dad shopped at Jas K. Wilson.
The toy store was M. E. Moses. Hardware was available from Plaza Hardware. (I worked there as a kid assembling and repairing Schwinn bikes and Lawn Boy and Toro lawnmowers. I learned about tools there, too.) The pharmacy was Payne's Drug Store. If you wanted a casual meal out you went to Harris Restaurant or to the Plaza Cafeteria and saw Mr. & Mrs. Padgett. Want a hamburger? Try Lindy's drive-in. Need a new car? Go see Ken Pruitt (Buick) or Mr. Jackson (Chevy).
Mr. Tedford owned the Enco station (now Exxon) and would always wash your windshield and check your oil while filling your tank. We got our furniture and appliances from Hollingshead's, and our tires from Shugart's. That's just the way things were back then. You bought from your neighbors. They knew you and went out of their way to make you happy. It was called "customer service".
Today we have Walmart and Target, Macy's and Toys R Us, Home Depot and Walgreen's, Chili's and the Sonic Auto Group. Need gas? Just swipe your card at the pump. (A complete stop is still required.) The "owner" is usually in a far-away city somewhere looking at a spreadsheet, and the "manager" was a senior in high school last month. Neither knows your name. Or cares.
I understand "economies of scale". I know we have many, many more choices at much lower prices today than we had back in those days, but something deep inside me says we've lost a whole lot, too. If you can still find a small local business where you live, go buy something from them today. (Maybe again tomorrrow, too?) Spend an extra buck or two. It won't hurt you, and it will mean a lot to them.
S
