Give a jolt to local economy, spend $20 April 20
Published 10:59 am Sunday, April 15, 2012
Want to fire a jolt — and send a message — into the local economy? There are few better ways than what The Vicksburg Post and local merchants are promoting — spend $20 at a local business on April 20. That’s Friday.
Shopping online has made commerce more accessible and, with a click of a mouse, almost any item desired can be purchased. But, shopping online for everyday items also hurts local businesses and state and local coffers. Many online retailers do not collect sales tax, which has taken revenue away from the local economy.
We do not begrudge online commerce and realize that it has become an integral part of our daily lives, but we cannot forget our neighbors on Main Street who serve the local residents first. Spending money locally will have long-reaching effects. It will pump money into our economy, support our neighbors and provide personalized, custom service not seen when shopping online. It also will give the buyer some satisfaction that he or she is taking part in keeping the local economic engine turning.
Online mega-shopping sites even have capabilities, using a smart phone app, to scan an item at a local store, then instantly find the best online deal. So it might lead to token savings — and there are items that can be bought online that are not available locally — but will it help Vicksburg and Warren County?
In the coming days, local merchants will offer deals and bargains in the pages of this newspaper. We hope the community will respond. Twenty dollars on April 20. Such a simple concept can mean a ton to the health of the local economy.