Shopping small local businesses is challenging. Before dawn I went to town and got cash at a locally owned ATM, bought gasoline after my trip to Des Moines at a local franchise of the Iowa Casey’s convenience store company (definitely not a small business), and then splurged for a box of four pastries at the locally owned The Eat Shop in Solon. No one local is getting rich from my purchases, but that’s not the point of Small Business Saturday.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday began in 2010, promoted by the American Express Company. The following year the U.S. Congress passed a resolution recognizing the day. It adds to the post-holiday shopping trend retailers hope to generate. Black Friday needs no explanation, and I just explained today. Next is National Secondhand Sunday, then Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday. Weeping Wednesday is supposed to be the day you receive the bill for all the shopping. In the days of online banking, we can tally the expense before then and regulate how much we spend.
The ATM I used is locally owned yet my money is kept at a bank in Texas. I have been a member of an automobile insurance company since 1976 and in the 1990s they started a bank. I joined and have been with them ever since. By having everything immediately available online once the internet came along, I have been able to stop bank fraud by crooks before it happens. I met and like both the local banker and his father. In a small city one gets to know all the bankers. I’m glad my bank contracted with the one they did.
Don’t get me started about the gasoline I bought to refill the tank after the Thanksgiving trip to Des Moines. Who really knows who makes money and how much on that commodity. The major oil companies have the system rigged so they make money every step of the way from pumping it out of the ground overseas, to managing the ocean vessels carrying it to the U.S., to refining, and pipelines, and truck transport, to the local station. Each step in the journey of a barrel of crude oil is a pricing point for the oil company. The locals work on a tight margin and make their money by selling convenience items, gas station pizza and sandwiches, and drinks.
At least there is hope for the bakery, which is owned by a woman with six or so area locations. The goods are all made from scratch and a bit pricey for everyday eating. They call themselves a boutique bakery, which means fancy stuff intended for purposes other than nourishment. Their philosophy, according the their website, is
In today’s world, people are increasingly health-conscious. It seems nearly everyone diets or allows themselves to have that coveted “cheat day.”
So, when you do indulge, it better be worth it. Worth the calories. Worth the sugar. Worth the carbs.
I do buy things from them a couple times a year, so why not on Small Business Saturday? Cheat day or no.
Couple of bits for the ATM transaction, buck or so margin on the gasoline sale, and $18.70 for the pastries is about it for my Small Business Saturday. At least I feel like I did something.
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