Go Local - Ten Reason to Shop Locally

For our shopping feature we were looking forward to telling you about a little store in Ballantyne that brought a wide variety of high quality, uncommon gourmet food products to Charlotte. We couldn't wait to tell you about handmade chocolates, imported olive oil, specialty sauces and popcorn that was to die for! But sadly, Charlotte has to say "goodbye" before it really had a chance to say "hello."

We recently learned that Gourmet Enhancements has decided to close its doors.

"While many of our customers really appreciated and loved what was available, we could never expand that loyal customer base to that critical mass necessary to keep the store open," said owner Sol Haberman.

We're disappointed that more people did not get a chance to enjoy Gourmet Enhancements' delicious offerings. We are certain that many of the distinctive and tasty products would have become your favorites, just as they had become ours. The loss of these unique products in the Charlotte marketplace is only one example of why TheLuckyLoop.com strives to increase awareness of all the great products and services that locally owned businesses have to offer.

We encourage you to continue supporting your local businesses, so that Charlotte continues to have interesting products and services available from local retailers as the market continues to grow.

Here are 10 other great reasons to consider supporting local businesses:

Why Support Locally Owned Businesses?

Local Character and Prosperity
In an increasingly homogenized world, communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character have an economic advantage.

Community Well-Being
Locally owned businesses build strong communities by sustaining vibrant town centers, linking neighbors in a web of economic and social relationships, and contributing to local causes.

Product Diversity
A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based, not on a national sales plan, but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

Competition
A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.

Extra Attention & Quality Service
Small business owners compete by focusing on providing quality goods along with great customer service. Local business employees also take the time to get to know their customers.

Keeping Dollars in the Local Economy
Compared to chain stores, locally owned businesses recycle a much larger share of their revenue back into the local economy, enriching the whole community.

Local Decision-Making
Local ownership ensures that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions.

Jobs and Wages
Locally owned businesses create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits than chains do.

Public Benefits and Costs
Local stores in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure and make more efficient use of public services relative to big box stores and strip shopping malls.

Environmental Sustainability
Local stores help to sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centers-which in turn are essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss, and air and water pollution.