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Shop local and keep dollars flowing in the Okanagan

You are a hero when you Shop Local.

You are essentially a social economist, a scientific spender, a supporter of small and independent businesses who has an immediate and long-lasting impact on the community where you live.

"Science shows the power of buying local," says Okanagan College School of Business Professor Blair Baldwin.

"Several studies show that when someone spends $100 at a small, independent business in their own town, $73 stays in the local economy to circulate over and over again."

That same $100 spent at a multinational chain sees only $43 remain in the local economy.

As well, the circulation of cash is four-and-a-half times more with local spending than with buying at a multinational.

</who>Science backs up the benefits of Shop Local, according to Okanagan College School of Business Professor Blair Baldwin.

NowMedia Group's 'Keeping Dollars Flowing in the Okanagan' video illustrates this brilliantly in just one minute and 44 seconds.

The video follows $100 as its initially spent on a meal at Hector's Casa Mexican restaurant and morphs and multiplies through more spending at the Kelowna Farmers' and Crafters' Market, the independently-owned Home Hardware, Amici's Hair Salon, Frakas clothing boutique, Ex-Nihilo Winery, d6 Print Studio, Prospera Place to watch the Kelowna Rockets and BNA Brewing Co. & Eatery.

</who>NowMedia Group's 'Keeping Dollars Flowing in the Okanagan' video starts with a couple paying their tab at Hector's Casa Mexican restaurant with a $100 bill.

The Shop Local movement has been around forever, but has taken on renewed importance as the pandemic drags on.

We have to support small and independent businesses where we live or risk losing them in COVID aftermath.

Baldwin cites another study that shows if British Columbians shift just 10% of their spending to local it will create 14,000 jobs in the province and put an extra $4.3 billion into the economy.

Jon Lea, co-owner of One Boardshop, Premium Label Outlet and Four Sight Supply, all in Kelowna, admits shopping local is tricky.

"For a long time we didn't push it because it was an abstract concept and we wanted people to have the freedom to shop where they wanted to shop, not just because it is local."

However, Lea is now a convert.

"There's so much intrinsic value in shopping local," he says.

"Shopping local is basically community building. Buying from a local business keeps that money in the community by way of employee wages and spending, municipal taxes paid and support for dry grads and prizes for sports teams."

Lea is still all for freedom.

"People aren't going to Shop Local and pay 20% more," he says.

"Small and independent businesses still have to have competitive prices and make it convenient for consumers with the right opening hours, excellent customer service and online shopping options."

Lea says shoppers have a choice to make.

"Do you want to pay into your own community or do you want to make Jeff Bezos a trillionaire?" he asks.

Bezos is the world's richest person with a net worth of US$204 billion and the CEO of the Amazon empire of online shopping, video streaming, cloud computing, Internet and web services.

Bezos doesn't sponsor your kid's sports team or pay municipal taxes in the Okanagan.

</who>Jon Lea, co-owner of One Boardshop and Premium Label Outlet, is a huge Shop Local advocate.

The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Kelowna Association have renewed Shop Local programs in response to COVID.

"We still have a long way to go in convincing people to spend as much locally as they can," says chamber executive director Dan Rogers.

"We have to get the message out constantly that the spin off of shopping local is keeping jobs and money and services in the city. And even if you prefer to shop online, shop online with a local company."

Downtown is primarily a collection of independent shops, restaurants and services.

"We've always had the 'Your Downtown' and 'support local' positions," says association executive director Mark Burley.



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