HobnobCharleston Encourages Local Spending in the Charleston Community by Offering Some Ideas on How to Shift Dollars to the Local Businesses

Charleston, SC, August 03, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Being an online community hub for Charleston, SC, HobNobCharleston wants to heighten the awareness of what shopping local really does for the local community. At HobnobCharleston the goal is to promote local businesses, non-profits, & events. Because of this HobnobCharleston is encouraging Local residents to start to shift their dollars to local businesses. Whether it be through the 10% shift that the lowcountry local first program recommends or by simply making a conscious effort to buy from smaller businesses, where the service is still personable and the owner lives in the Charleston community.

In any magazine you open, any newspaper you unfold, any blog you frequent or any news channel you watch there is one thing on everyone’s lips: the downturn in the economy. All the discussion of the downward driving economy is enough to make anyone scared for their financial future or current financial status. While everyone is considering the financial problems the economy may cost them personally, do they ever stop to think of the obstructing damage it is doing to businesses in the community? Do they ever wonder how their budget cuts affect the local businesses and their survival?

Any business, large or small, thrives and survives off of their customers. Without consumers, no business would continue to exist. The system is as easy as that, yet complications make locally owned business owners frightened at the thought that their customers may not understand that concept. Everyone is cutting back, there is no doubt about that, but is cutting back too much negatively affecting our community? The answer is yes, yes and yes again. When consumers cut back and stop shopping locally to save a few bucks, the impact on the community is harsh.

Shopping locally not only help local business owners, but it helps the community in general by bringing that revenue back into the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. Most consumers do not realize that for every dollar spent locally, 60 cents of that dollar will stay in the community. When money is spent at a national chain store instead, only forty three cents of that dollar stays locally. And as easy as internet shopping is, when one dollar is spent online, nothing stays in the community. Yes, you heard me, nothing.

One nationally recognized campaign to encourage local spending is called the 3/50 project. (the350project.net) This campaign encourages consumers to pick three local businesses and spend $50 a month at each of these businesses. If only half of the employed population of the United States would do so, their purchases would generate over $42.6 billion in revenue in the community. If every employed person in the U.S. spent $150 a month locally, over $85 billion dollars of revenue would be generated. These figures really bring the topics to the table to show us how much our spending affects the local community.

The Community of Charleston is flooded with local businesses trying to make their mark on the community. These business owners work extra hard and extra hours to keep their business afloat, especially in the economy we live in today. Most of these businesses, both large and small, struggle to make ends meet. Many even close their doors due to lack of business. Everyone hates to see the cute coffee shop, pet store, garden supply store, hometown restaurant or boutique in their community shut down. These shops provide people in the community with something special. The products offered in those stores offer the consumer something that feels as if it was brought to them with care and love from the business owner. It gives a personal touch that makes everyone feel special. There is nothing like going into a small business and having a one on one chat with the owner. These business owners not only care about their business, but they care about the community and they care about their customers. This special care is not received at a national chain store or an online store.

So, how can these businesses be saved? How can the community continue to survive and thrive in this struggling economy? The answer is simple. It starts with one person. It starts with one purchase. Shop locally and support the community of Charleston.

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