C-K doesn’t support local business

Sir: It is really sad how people who live in Chatham love to encourage locals to open businesses because, “It is great to have locally owned places to eat and shop,” but then never go there to support them.

When big corporations or franchises open new stores or move to new location, it is big news. Newspapers, TV and radio are all right there to do reports on this big news for free, but whenever a small local business opens or moves, you never see any of this kind of courtesy for them. If they want advertising they have to pay for it and pay big bucks for it.

I find it very interesting that you can drive by a fast food location or a coffee shop and see high profile community members there at any given time. For example, the mayor, council members, police, fire or ambulance persons. Drive by a small local tea or coffee shop and you would be hard-pressed to find anyone in there because they are not big enough, well-known enough, supported enough or, and this one just kills me, are not a franchise. How many of you right now have big-name coffee or teacups in your garbage or cup holders instead of small, locally owned cups and take out containers?

The whole point of shopping local is to support your community and the people who live there. By shopping at these smaller local businesses you are dealing directly with the owners and have a much better sense of what you are eating, drinking or buying in general.

Come on, Chatham-Kent, put your money where your mouth is and start supporting local businesses. They are the ones who truly believe in our community.

Estelle Demers

Chatham