This first post is about something I feel very passionately about, buying local.  You are probably like me and have chosen to live here because you love the quality of life this island provides both to you, and to your family, right?!  Well, part of what makes this island so great is our community. Within that community is the hub… our downtown retail clothing, furniture, shoe, bath, decor, jewelry, knitting,  and book stores, bakeries, restaurants and general places to hang out and converse and catch up with friends.

Did you know that these places, that we all frequent, are owned by local people, friends that our children go to school with, neighbors and family?  They help create and sustain the quality of life we all love so much about this great island we live on.  Many of these merchants feed their families solely on the money they make from our purchases and depend on us to help them put that food on their tables.

Many of these wonderful merchants even donate percentages of their earnings from us to help others of us, who don’t have enough money for such luxuries.  What an incredible concept!  We help them and they help others within our community, helping our community to keep thriving… its the circle of life right here in our backyards!  For example many of you, including myself, bought all of your back to school supplies at our local “Paper Products” because we knew that they were donating 10% of their proceeds to “Project Backpack”.  Is Paper Products a tad more expensive than Wally World, yes.  Did I feel great knowing that buying locally, helped feed the owners of the store and help some members of our community who can’t afford to purchase basic school supplies at this time, YOU BET!

Okay, I get it,  I am the first to acknowledge that times are tough and the economy is struggling,  I’m a realtor for crying out loud.  But come on  people we need to keep our community thriving, therefore we need to support it and do our best to buy local when we can.  Think about it this way.  Most of us go to Seattle or Silverdale to shop if we don’t shop local.  The number one reason I hear from my friends about not buying local,  is “it’s too expensive”.  Then you drive to Silverdale or jump a boat to Seattle and shop your good deals, feeling very good about the money you just saved.  Or did you?  Didn’t it just cost you some gas to drive to said Silverdale?  Didn’t you just pay a ferry toll to go to Seattle?  Did you really save as much as you thought?  I think not.

Bottom line, it’s important to buy local.  Be a part of the community you so love to live in.  Be a proud contributor to the success of our island merchants and the success of our town.  These are your neighbors, the family members our children go to school with, people who give you places to frequent.  Remember, when you buy local you…

  • Support our local economy create local jobs
  • conserve tax dollars
  • Reduce environmental Impact
  • Invest in Entrepreneurship
  • Embrace enthusiasm
  • Nurture community
  • Create more choice
  • Foster uniqueness
  • Celebrate independents!

It’s a scientific fact that shopping creates a rush of happy endorphins through your body.  Let’s all try to keep that happiness local, (Lord knows we need it in all this rain!)

The next time you are in need of that perfect blouse, new pair of shoes, area rug that will simply complete your room, try local stores first. It’s fun, it’s friendly and it’s your home, let’s keep it thriving!