Paying Cash & Buying Local

Being in the bridal business, I know that many customers will shop their local stores for the gown they want and then they will purchase that gown from an internet vendor. Of course, they have used the purchased inventory, time, and resources of the local store to make their decision. Obviously, this does not sit well with me.

So, over the past three years, I have re-evaluated my own purchasing habits. In my "old life", when I used credit cards for purchases, I was an impulse shopper (still am, a little). Now that I am careful to only spend what I have budgeted for an item, it is tempting to turn to an online vendor to find it "cheaper" than I can find it locally.

However, I have purposed not to buy anything online that I can buy from a local store. Sure, I may pay a little more, but I know that I am supporting my local economy, my neighbors, and the customers who will buy from my store. When I shop at my local yarn store, fingering the beautiful skeins in their inventory and asking advice from the manager, it is only right to reward them for their time and investment with my purchase. I feel it would be ethically wrong to go home and purchase the yarn from an online site.

Do you buy local? Imagine what would happen if all Americans supported their local merchants!

"just further in debt"

This weekend, we have been in Chicago for the National Bridal Market, buying gowns and accessories for our bridal store. As any of you who go to conventions or buying markets know, it's fun, but it's hard work, too.

As my assistant and I were finishing our day today, we shared an elevator with an older couple. The husband and wife looked as tired as we felt, and we shared some comments about making merchandise choices, being on our feet, etc.

I then said something like, "it's a lot of work spending that much money". The husband just shook his head and said, "it's lots of work to just get further in debt".

I found it so sad that they had to look at it that way. I never use credit to purchase merchandise for my store. I go to Market with a budget and stick to it. Sure, it's hard. But, it's fun to go home without buyer's remorse!