Our smallest bedroom is currently being used as a music room...and for storing disc golf and running paraphernalia, backpacks, and brewing and fermenting supplies. Can you fit all of that in a 72 square foot space? Of course not, but you do what you've got to do when you don't have a garage or any other reasonable storage space. To maximize space, we decided to hang some of our guitars on the wall. While running errands north of town, I remembered that we needed to buy the wall hangers, and a Guitar Center was nearby. Then I remembered that we have a music store in our neighborhood. Nothing against Guitar Center*, but the fact is, I want to support a different consumer experience. The music store in our neighborhood is fun to patronize. It's small with a quality selection of items, all of which the staff will readily let you try out. (I defy you to check out the second floor percussion section without touching anything.) Most importantly, I WANT a music store in my neighborhood. That option, that experience, is important to me.
We shop at the local grocery store chains and as often as we can, at the local grocer down the block. The record player is always going, there are monthly wine tastings, and dead bodies are buried under the floor (at least there were in an episode of Grimm). What's not to love?
Part of cultivating the community we want is supporting the businesses and institutions that make it a great place. Voting with your dollars is a beautiful thing. It's an important thing. Sometimes it's inconvenient, but it's worth it every time.
Cherry Sprout
* I volunteered for Girls Rock Denver for four years when I lived in Colorado, and every year, Guitar Center made extremely generous donations to the camp. In addition to supporting small, local businesses, it can be just as affirming to know how/if those bigger chain stores are supporting their surrounding communities.