Syracuse, N.Y. - The first annual Shop Syracuse Week is underway and many local business owners are excited. Shop Syracuse started on Friday last week and ends on Sunday. Syracuse First, a non-profit organization which started this past summer, is behind the effort to encourage holiday shoppers to buy local so money can stay in Syracuse.
Good for the Community
Shop Syracuse Week’s Organizer, Chris Fowler, said money is better spent locally where it can be re-invested into the community.
“When you spend money at a locally owned business, almost twice as much money is re-circulated in the community,” said Fowler.
To better illustrate it, Fowler said that for every $100 spent at a local business, more than $70 stays in the community. This is in contrast to $40 when spending the same amount of money at a national chain.
“You don’t have to completely change the way you do things,” Fowler insisted. “But instead of going to Starbucks ten times, try Sparky Town, [or] try another local coffee shop,” concluded Fowler.
Shop Syracuse Week Good for Small Business Owners
Sparky Town, a coffee shop and restaurant on Burnet Avenue in Syracuse, is dedicated to supporting local businesses. In addition to serving food and coffee, they sell locally made crafts, decorations and paintings. Owner of Sparky Town, Linda “Sparky” Mortimer, says she’s seen a boost in sales since Shop Syracuse Week began.
“More people are coming in [and] more people are finding out about us. I think there’s a genuine interest here for people to shop locally,” Mortimer said.
A short distance away in Armory Square, Owner of Eva’s Boutique, Eva Higgins, is excited and feels that the community should know that money spent in the city, stays in the city.
“I think it’s good that they know the money will stay in our economy, you know, make Syracuse a stronger place. Economically we need this boost,” said Higgins.
And according to Higgins, the possible rise in sales is much needed.
“We really do need help here in the retail world. The small boutiques, we’re not like the big department stores,” Higgins said. She continued, “We don’t make a ton of money. We’re locally owned and we just make enough to make a living,” she finished.
Shop Local? Or Not to Shop Local? That is the Question
Some, like Danny McNally, say they already shop at local businesses.
“I love the personal touch,” said McNally. “[And] I want to make sure to maintain the vitality of our city center.”
While others, like Christina Stasko, thinks shopping locally is more expensive.
"If they had better deals I would definitely think about shopping at one of the local shops," said Stasko.
But Shop Syracuse business owners say it's not all about the cost.
"You have nothing to lose and everything to gain and you get that personalized intimate service that you may not get in a bigger store," Mortimer said.
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