Mom and Pop Shop

Mom and Pop Shop

Spotlight On
by Clark Westfield and Special Financial Consultant Fiscal Clifton
December 2012

It’s real simple. With the tragedy that was Sandy, many retailers along the shore were hit hard, and some are beginning to come back. They need more than a FEMA check or an insurance settlement. They need the support of their neighbors to bring them all the way back to financial stability. More than anything, they need to know you’re there. I can’t think of a better way to stimulate the state’s economy than by starting at the local level. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone. Are you broke yet? Did any of you win the Powerball lottery? If so, you can stop reading right now. You can buy Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Kmart, Pet Smart, Barnes and Noble, and all the malls that dominate our holiday season shopping landscape. But if you didn’t win half a billion dollars last month, then maybe it’s time to think about what and where you’re going to purchase that new bicycle, or video game or laptop computer. Again, it’s real simple. Shop local. Buy something from a store in your town. I’m not saying never go to a large outlet mall or megastore but the greater portion of your shopping dollar should go where it is needed most and has an immediate, visible effect. Money going into the coffers of your town and community resonates throughout the state’s economy. The profits go to the people who sell you the goods and services, not some CEO of a conglomerate sitting in his paneled office in Kansas or California. But let’s be fair. How about this for a compromise? For every dollar you spend in one of the superstores, spend one at home. Trust me, you’re not going to lose anything by making this choice. Actually, some of the best bargains and quality merchandise can be found in the trendy boutiques of Red Bank, Manasquan, Spring Lake and Shrewsbury. Shops like Ocean County Music in Point Pleasant Beach carry the finest in musical instruments and home electronics. And bicycles can be found in Belmar and Keansburg and Brick as easily and affordably as the giant retailers. Possibly the best reason for shopping locally is that they’re right up the road from home. In many cases, they’re your neighbors. You know the shop owners by name. Their children go to school with your children. They sponsor you sons and daughter’s little league teams. We sit side by side in church on Sunday mornings. As Christmas approaches and the spirit reaches deep down inside of us, it’s time for us to reach down into our wallets and follow our hearts. Do the right thing and help rebuild what has been torn down. Help to regain what was lost. Help to restore the Shore. It will take time of course, but I cannot think of a better way to begin than during the holidays when we all come together. We are not alone. We can make all the difference in the world to people who have suffered. And when all is said and done, and the gifts are opened under the tree, you’ll feel good about yourselves. I can’t think of a better way to start a new year. Merry Christmas New Jersey. It’s real simple.

More to come…CW

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