So, I was at a hockey game the other day, sitting in the stands, and guess who I was chatting with? Jeff. Yeah, that Jeff. Jeff Bezos! You know, from Amazon.
Anyways, it turns out that his kid’s on the same team as mine, and we got to talking about local sponsorships. Jeff was telling me how he always makes sure a chunk of his business profits goes straight to small-town teams, like ours here in Warman. Every time I shop with him, he said, I’m helping my own community!
…Yeah, right. That didn’t happen. I don’t have a kid in hockey!
Oh, and—spoiler alert—Jeff Bezos isn’t sitting in the bleachers cheering for Warman teams, let alone sponsoring them.
But you know who is? Your local shops, the ones right here in town. We’re the ones putting dollars back into the community, supporting local sports, building trails, and keeping our hometown awesome. So after talking with many local business owners over the past few months here in Warman, I felt compelled to write this post and share what we’ve all been thinking. I hope you find it humerous and informative!
The Impact of Shopping Local
Jeff Bezos gets shoppers from all over the world. Well, except maybe Cuba. And Iran. And apparently North Korea. But, hey, minor details! The point is, Jeff’s market is basically everywhere.
Now, those of us running businesses here in Warman? Our market is… well, Warman. And the surrounding areas. We might ship the occasional oddball order to somewhere like Quebec, but mostly, our lights stay on thanks to our neighbours, friends, teammates and colleagues right here at home.
In return, those dollars spent at our stores also return back into our community. As your neighbours, friends, teammates and colleagues, we take that money and sponsor your kid’s hockey. We spend that money, as well as our energy and efforts, back into local events. Like being part of a parade, or helping out at our local trails.
Economic Impact
Money made and spent within a local community has a great and positive economic impact. Alberta’s premier of years ago, Ralph Klein, knew this. Back in 2006, his government paid $400 to each and every Albertan when they had experienced a budget surplus. No, seriously, I’m not making that up! There was actually a real life government organization that really did have a real life surplus! It is possible, even if it may be unthinkable in today’s day of debt and overspending. But I digress.
The fact is, however, that those “Ralph bucks” (as they were termed), were largely spent right back into Alberta’s economy. Ralph Klein’s government had a surplus (so rare), gave away essentially free money (happy citizens) and also reaped a return benefit of a stronger local economy as that money was put right back into the province.
This is exactly how our own dollars can make a real difference locally. When we invest back into our neighborhood shops, we’re building up a stronger local economy that benefits all of us—not helping Mr. Bezos pick up another mansion in Barbados (or wherever the rich and famous are buying islands these days).
In other words, every dollar we spend here helps us—our community, our friends, our families.
Community Building
When you last completed an Amazon order, did you become friends with the person that helped you pick out your item and rang you through? No, because it’s a faceless transaction. Now, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy solitude and faceless transactions are, indeed, attractive to many of us introverts!
But, humans were built for community. The more we hide away from people, we start to become disatisfied. We become less trustful of those around us, because we don’t know them. We become more divisive. When the only “outsiders” we speak to is our neighbour asking to borrow our tools, we can start to get a cynical view of everyone we’re not sure about. Does this sound familiar? Pandemic of 2020 anyone?
When we build community, we build strength. We get to know the people around us, and—surprise, surprise—the old-fashioned way of walking into a local shop, chatting with someone face-to-face, actually helps make that happen.
You start to know the person behind the counter. You become friends with the owners, connecting over shared values and interests. Shopping local isn’t just a transaction—it’s a way to build trust and create real connections in our community.
One recent reviewer of Atlas on Google said it well when he stated that going to Atlas was “…not just a store—it’s an adventure outfitter, a BBQ mecca, and a therapy session all rolled into one.” That’s a community.
Debunking Misconceptions
Do you know one of the biggest myths about shopping at a small, local business? That it’s going to cost more. Sure, sometimes the big box or online giants might offer a lower price—but honestly, those cases are now the exception, not the rule.
We often hear customers say, “Hey, your prices are actually lower than what I saw online!” And we’ve even had cases where a customer brings in a part they bought elsewhere, and we can’t help but notice the price tag. Spoiler alert: they often paid more than they would have with us—plus they likely waited longer to get it (Canada Post strike ringing any stress bells with you?).
Compared to online shopping, nothing beats the one-on-one expertise you get from a local shop. Just recently, a customer shopping for a hiking backpack exclaimed, “This is why we didn’t go with Amazon!” Why? Because they got a perfect fit—professionally checked and sized, with every feature explained in detail. That kind of expertise meant they walked out with the right pack the first time, without any returns or guesswork involved.
Another customer, while being fitted for new figure skates, mentioned how refreshing it was to discuss options, fit, and functionality with people who actually understand the sport. Having that kind of knowledge and expertise on hand made all the difference in finding the perfect pair.
These are not experiences you often get at a big box store, and never get from an online retailer.
Call to Action
When a local business closes down, we all love snagging the “deals” while lamenting how sad it is that they didn’t make it. But what if that store closing wasn’t just a matter of bad luck? What if our shopping habits could have been the difference for an owner whose dream turned into a struggle?
I’m guilty of it, and I bet you are too—online shopping is easy. I can do it from my couch, my bed…even from the toilet! No need to interact or even get dressed. But if we don’t support the community we live in, how long will it be there when we, in turn, actually need it? Supporting local is about making sure our community thrives, not just when it’s convenient, but because it matters.
And I know I’ve picked on “poor” Jeff Bezos here, but the big box stores are not much better. The Wal-Marts, Costco’s and Cabela’s owners also do nothing for local community, instead just pocketing your hard earned cash for their gain only.
So next time you’re about to make a purchase, take a trip to your local stores first. See what they’ve got, chat them up, and start building that community vibe—it’s like an investment that pays dividends to you, them, and even that neighbour who keeps borrowing your tools.
