Community Success While Supporting Local Commerce

This publication is a new venture in Warner Robins to support local commerce and agriculture. We are excited to launch this publication in the Houston County area to bring added success to local merchants while saving consumers money. This is a monthly publication that not only advertises for local businesses, but will also spotlight local business. The intent of Saving Sense is to form a consortium with local entrepreneurs and to draw attention away from the "big box" stores. This publication will educate consumers on the landscape of the local business community. It will also demonstrate the face of our community if support is not garnered by the local and independently owned business.

Now is the time for each consumer to take responsibility for the face of our community in light of increased online sales and the media push towards "big box" America. All consumers in the local area must work together to provide strong support to the independent business or that sector of our economy will face extinction.

Is it hard to believe that the state of our National economy can somehow be the result of our pursuit for the biggest and best at the least expensive price? Is the least expensive cost always the best value? Is it not true that all consumers have experienced the lack of service commonplace in "big box" America?

How is the economic consequence of "big box" America really measured? What is the actual cost to the local store owner, taxpayer and local consumer? Is it possible that the local consumer is trading the cost of less expensive retail products for more in tax revenue at the loss of local business?

These are questions that will be addressed with articles each month. This newsletter will educate consumers on the relevance of supporting local business and thereby furl free enterprise. Every year that passes with the advent of "newer, bigger and better big box stores" is one more nail in the proverbial coffin of free enterprise.

Drive down the main streets in your local community and see how many commercial businesses are gone. Granted, these economic times are unprecedented nation wide. However, think about every discretionary dollar that you may have spent this year and where it was spent. Was it spent in light of supporting your local community and the economic landscape there?

Working together as a community of excellence, we can make a solid difference on the impact we have on locally owned and operated businesses. In support of this coalition, the local businesses will include special offers in their advertising to encourage consumers to once again enjoy the benefits of "Buy-Local".