I like to know who I buy from, and it doesn’t matter what I am buying. An oil change. A pair of pants. Or fish tacos. I simply like to connect with the person who owns the place. That’s getting tougher as more and more locally owned businesses are sold to out-of-towners. I don't blame anyone for this. I just wish I could connect more with the people I buy from, and I wish they lived here. That means something, at least to me.
When Scott Politte greets me in the Stivers Ford showroom to personally thank me for choosing to buy my truck there, that means something.
When Simon Goheen opens the door for Jolene and me at his restaurant and looks us in the eyes and tells us how much he appreciates us dining at Simon’s, that means something.
When Paula Bierle suggests an item of clothing to me at her Purple Poppy boutique that she knows Jolene will like, that means something.
In this world where the managers of the chain stores seem to change each month, it is refreshing to know where you can still find familiar faces.
The number of chain stores — and the out-of-towners owning or operating them — is growing, but the number of locally owned businesses is on the rise here in central Iowa, too, and we need to seek out and buy their amazing products and unmatched services.
Some people seem to be perfectly happy buying merchandise online from people they don’t know. I hope they will realize what they are missing — before it’s too late.
Country music singer Alan Jackson penned a beautiful song called “Little Man” that illustrates what can happen when we lose the soul of our local business communities. He wrote the words in the late 1990s when Amazon was only selling books, but it should make us all think before we make future purchases.
Meanwhile, we can support our locally owned businesses AND buy from the chain stores. My father taught me this as a child when he noticed that his car needed gas. He drove by a fancy convenience store and then pulled in to a small filling station. I asked him why he didn't go to the big store. He said, “I certainly do, but we need to support the little guy, too.” Amen.
Have a wonderful Wednesday, and, as always, thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305 | 
