Over the last few months, I have really enjoyed getting more acquainted with the wonderful stores and restaurants that are locally owned. There is a movement churning throughout OKC to “Keep It Local”. So here’s my question:
Do you consider Whole Foods a local store? Why or why not? And do you shop there?
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9 comments
gorillabuns
February 11, 2012 at 12:41 PM (UTC -5)
I tend to shop or do business with smaller merchants vs chains. My drug store is an independently owned one, the place where I get my car serviced is some old dude who is fair and sweet, and if I can, I shop where local businesses are supported.
Stephanie
February 11, 2012 at 9:18 PM (UTC -5)
I’ve been trying to shop local more after I realized the impact it can make on small businesses. But I feel like Whole Foods is a bit of a mix of both local and “chain”.
wemo
February 11, 2012 at 12:03 AM (UTC -5)
Whole Paycheck is in no way local- they are a chain just like Homeland, WalMart, etc. I’d prefer to spend my money at Forward Foods a REAL local company.
Danielle (elleinadspir)
February 9, 2012 at 3:38 PM (UTC -5)
I don’t think of Whole Foods as local. It isn’t locally owned. I think that it is great that they carry local products, and therefore they are still an improvement over another chain grocery store, but to truly keep it local, shop at places like Forward Foods.
Scott Bell
February 9, 2012 at 3:32 PM (UTC -5)
Great question. Whole Foods is not local. When they pay their income taxes, they do so in Austin, TX. They do more to purchase things locally than others, but that doesn’t make them “local.”
If I have a choice, I spend locally because that money stays in our community and it multiplies (search Multiplier effect). A conservative estimate is that for every $1 you spend locally, .45 cents is reinvested locally. That same dollar spent at a chain equals .15 cents. Spend at a chain and you help to improve someone else’s community. Even a small shift in spending locally in OKC would create millions in additional tax revenues, plus more jobs.
I would contrast Patrick’s argument…supply and demand dictates the market. If Bank of America left OKC because everyone shifted to banking local, then local institutions would step in and fill that need. Instead of those tax dollars going to Charlotte, NC they would stay right here in OKC.
Allison
February 9, 2012 at 3:11 PM (UTC -5)
I agree, Patrick made some great points. Keep it Local has 2 different meanings for me as well. If I can buy the goods from a merchant in my area, I will.
Two months ago, we were car shopping and wanted to keep our money local, despite getting a better price south of the border. No, the car wasn’t made here, but my sales tax will go to Oklahoma and it gives a fellow Oklahoman a paycheck.
Patrick Allmond
February 9, 2012 at 1:03 PM (UTC -5)
The only thing makes it local is it’s physical location.
I see this same discussion a lot in the coffee industry. The problem that I see in the whole “Keep it Local” movement is that I want to spend my money where my friends work. And I have friends that work at national chains. If my friends and I choose to spend my money exclusively at local places, the non-local place might lose traffic and business. Then my friend is out of work.
I go the balanced route. Some at local, some at national chains.
Stephanie
February 9, 2012 at 1:12 PM (UTC -5)
Good points Patrick. Thanks for sharing.
Your idea also applies to Whole Foods. They do not produce a lot of their products here locally, but the do seek out local producers to stock some of their products. And as such, are supporting local businesses in addition to adding jobs to our economy.
Scott Bell
February 9, 2012 at 4:34 PM (UTC -5)
By the way….Patrick and I both get our hair done locally.