Support Those Who Support You
A Maggie Editorial

Recently we, the staff, had a conversation with a member of our Maggie family of contributing business owners. He was understandably frustrated as a result of a recent experience. We could understand completely and we thought we would share the gist of the story with you.
Everyday more and more franchises and national chains come into growing towns like Salisbury. They are able to contribute large amounts of money to various causes, which helps build goodwill. This is a good thing, the store supporting the local community from which it derives its profits.
The problem our friend found so frustrating arises when the other small businesses in town, who have been contributing to the little league and school fair or giving out gift certificates for golf tournaments, begin to feel that they are being looked down upon because they can not give $5,000 or more in a lump sum to a cause.
Independent businesses are often approached more for donations because they can make decisions more quickly. Over the past ten years, our friend’s business has given over $75.000 for team sponsorship, gift certificates, Cancer society, SU foundation, Fruitland schools, Lions Club, March of Dimes, Holly Center, St. Francis, etc. That is money that could have been used to buy new equipment or pay bonuses. But as a member of the local community, with child in local schools and his family supporting other local independent businesses by using their goods and services, he feels it is his duty to help where he can.
Imagine, then, how he felt when he had the following experience. He wanted to support a local business rather than buying out of state and so spent over $1900.00 with a local company. That same night, that company’s owner took his business (a substantial and highly visible purchase) to a very near-by competing establishment, part of a large chain. Sadly, this was not an isolated event for our friend or others.
This is not to say that we shouldn’t purchase where and from whom we wish in a free society. And we certainly are not advocating boycotting any business from which you receive quality and value. But in these tough and uncertain economic time, doesn’t it just make sense to support each other whenever possible?
In life and in business.