The Good News and the People Making it Happen

We hear the phrase “Shop Local” so often that it can start to lose its meaning.

But for those of us who work closely with small businesses, its impact is very real — felt every single day.

Online shopping has become part of our routine, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But I wish everyone would make at least a small effort to support the businesses owned by our friends and neighbors. When you spend it with a local shop, your dollar doesn’t just stop at the register. It turns over three to fifteen times in the community. That means owners reinvest in their storefronts, their families, and their employees — who then spend their wages locally as well.

One study shows that 67 cents of every dollar spent at a local business stays in the community, compared to chain stores where only about 14 cents remain here. The rest goes to corporate headquarters and eventually to shareholders. That difference matters.

I was reminded of this again at the recent Shop Paragould First kickoff event, where we heard from a fantastic speaker, Paige Dennis of Joann’s in Fulton, Tennessee. She shared smart, actionable advice for small business owners:

• Offer exceptional service — the kind big-box stores rarely provide.
• Set store hours that actually match your customers’ shopping habits and stick to them.
• Create memorable experiences by collaborating with other local businesses and promoting those experiences together.
• And perhaps her most powerful message: Outwork the competition, and don’t quit.

A strong local economy doesn’t happen by accident. It grows because people choose to invest in their own community. This season, I hope we all make that choice a little more often.

-Dina Mason, General Manager & Publisher

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Lights are twinkling, Jill @ 99.3 is starting its second month of Christmas music and this month’s Premiere Magazine is loaded with holiday cheer. I am basking in the glow of it all!

I had such a good time interviewing Katie Morris and Santa Steve for our cover story this month. Both Katie and Santa Cause, as he is referred to for his generous giving to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, can light up a room as much as any Christmas tree.

It is stories like theirs that make me so happy to be where I am, doing what I do — sharing the good news of Northeast Arkansas and the People Making it Happen.

-Gretchen Hunt, Content Manager & Graphic Designer

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