Small business support goes a long way

Town of St. Paul Mayor Glenn Andersen made an astute observation when he noted that the opening of Grace Gardens Funeral Chapel in St. Paul last Thursday was timely, since it coincided with Small Business Week. The opening of the new facility at such a time was just one symbolic measure of the continued growth of the town and area, which is continually seeing more store openings and business expansions.

Small businesses are showing they again have a lot to offer, with many offering sales for Moonlight Madness this Friday, a long-time event in which people can find great personal items or Christmas gifts for frightfully good bargains. Now, it’s up to locals to go out there and support those small businesses by spending their dollars at home.

A local resident and reader recently wrote in to the Journal, asking why more people don’t choose to support local businesses by shopping local. In search of better prices or more product choices, people may take their wallets and travel to a bigger city like Edmonton or Lloydminster. Instead of being served by a cashier who can greet them by name, or visiting with the store owner who happens to live next door to them, they might choose to tramp the hallways of loud, busy and anonymous centres such as West Edmonton Mall in search of the biggest and best deal possible.

Although there may be more shops and big box-stores in urban centres, none of these businesses give back to the community of St. Paul. These box-stores are not the ones that donate silent auction items, sponsor 4-H awards, give back to minor hockey or football, or help out and contribute to several other events that take place in St. Paul and area.

Supporting local businesses is not only a way to ensure that we continue to have services in St. Paul, but it is also a way to say thanks to these businesses and their owners for all they do to ensure this town and area stay alive and vibrant.