Think Local
The Wyckoff Chamber of Commerce is moving into high gear for the holiday season with some new and traditional events to help kick off the season. Thanksgiving came especially late this year, bringing a bit more of a rushed feeling preparing for the upcoming holidays.
Residents will be getting ready for a an array of parties and events with friends, families, and neighbors, and The Chamber of Commerce is joining the fray by sponsoring the annual visit from Santa on December 5th and a Home-For-The- Holidays Event on Thursday, December 4th, with participating stores offering 10% off of their regular prices. Other great savings can be realized at stores giving away gifts and others giving away free promotional offerings so residents can sample goods or services for free. The chamber member list is diversified and it would be hard to name each individual incentive, but residents are encouraged to shop around and see each store for specific details.
The town tree lighting and Santa’s traditional visit on the 5th is being preceded by this new event on December 4th which offers extended shopping hours till 8pm. Many shops will be providing the “open house” format offering a lite refreshment or a special saving, other “brick and mortar” shops will become a base for service orientated businesses in town to meet and greet residents. The business community in Wyckoff is part of the bigger community, and this an opportunity for residents to meet the people behind the counter and save ten percent in the process, or maybe get a free gift certificate for use later.
Matt Brogowski, president-elect of The Chamber, will be firing up the coffee urn along with some holiday cookies and decorations for The Wireless Store. As Matt explains the new event,”Wyckoff Home for the Holidays” is our brand new initiative this year to promote and advertise local businesses, local shopping, and how vital it is to the local economy for people to stay “in town” when they purchase their clothing, shoes, toys, spa treatments, high-end electronics/home theater, cellphones and accessories, lovely decorations, and specialty foods for the holidays. Almost everything you can imagine that you or your children would want to buy this holiday season is available right here in Wyckoff, usually at great prices with unmatched levels of customer service.”
There’s a uniqueness to every town, and often these characteristics are noticed first in the shops, stores and restaurants that populate the roadsides. The community of people who own, operate, or manage the many businesses in Wyckoff are part of the town in a very special way. Residents expect, and most times receive, the quality of service that reflects their values and their perception of who they are, and where they live. Local businesses have always set a higher standard, and that standard continues to rise as malls, box-stores, and the Internet provide additional options for consumers.
But to quote Will Rogers, “It’s not what you pay a man, but what he costs you that counts”, and residents should take that into consideration during the holiday shopping season when spending dollars in the local economy. The economic crisis in America makes conscious consuming that much more imperative in determining the quality of life in a local neighborhood. Where residents shop, where they eat and have fun — all of it makes a community home. The local businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of Wyckoff, an important part of the social fabric. Every study and survey confirms that local businesses provide substantial support to local charities and civic organizations-usually giving double the amount of their corporate cousins; they also keep the money local. Businesses in Wyckoff are most likely to buy other goods in services in the community, and this further supports a vibrant local economy.
Local businesses are owned by people who are invested in the community’s future, and often hire people who share that same understanding-with a greater expertise on the products and services. There is an obvious need when shopping in bulk to visit a major retailer to realize substantial savings, but those big stores do not have a monopoly on low prices. It is obvious to any savvy shopper that there may be good savings on one item, but a considerable mark-up on other items that are available locally. There is a need for conscious consuming and realizing that making an effort to think local first has enormous benefits to the community.
There are many who believe shopping is another form of voting, and how residents allocate their money- the votes we cast every day with our dollars,– impacts everyday living. Wyckoff offers a great diversity of shopping, services, and dining, but there’s no expectation that in today’s world residents will limit all their purchases to the local general store. There is a need though for residents to practice ethical consumerism, to put thought behind the value of their money, to measure not only in dollars and cents, but measure in the quality of their lives, the benefits to the community, and to think local first.
Remember to take a spin around town on Thursday, December 4th for The Chamber’s Home for The Holidays event, and don’t forget the tree lighting and visit from Santa on December 5th.
