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07/30/2008
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Staff photo by Joe Phelan
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Staff photo by Joe Phelanfrom the Kennebec Journal
BUDGET CUTS ORDERED
Many happy returns in Richmond
Tax woes land on Whitefield
Rapist denied new trial
AUGUSTA MINDING A MINE
SPORT OF KINGS Falconry a blend of dedication and commitment
COLLEGE HOCKEY: Maine rallies but falls short against Boston College
COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Colby women win season opener at home tournament
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
WEDDING BURGLAR JAILED
Youths talk Turkey Day
Plenty of free Thanksgiving meals available
Turkey prices make for happier holiday
Kennebec County Superior Court
POLICE
COLLEGE HOCKEY: Maine rallies but falls short against Boston College
COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Colby women win season opener at home tournament
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
They said the fewer times you have to drive to a nearby city, the more gas you'll save.
Polly Hathaway of Gardiner said she shops as often as she can at her local stores. Tuesday afternoon she was headed to Reny's Department Store on Water Street.
"Why should I go to other places when I know I can find it right here at Reny's?" Hathaway said on her way into the store. "I can't see running to Augusta or anywhere out of our town for something I can get right here locally."
Linda Edgerton, director of Gardiner Main Street, has issued a "Downtown Challenge" to residents.
With gas prices more than $4 a gallon, she said it just makes sense to do the math when it comes to traveling outside your local area.
She said you can add $4.10 to the price of the items you bought if you traveled round trip to Augusta including driving through giant parking lots and from one shopping center to the other with a car that get 20 miles to the gallon.
"The whole point of this is to make people stop and think," Edgerton said. "One Sunday evening, I needed one item that was $4. I live in Bowdoin, and if I drove down to Topsham it would have, for me, been equivalent to a tank of gas. Or I could go to our little local general store and pay $1 more for the item, and my gas would cost about 75 cents."
Edgerton says buying local saves on gas and time, but also is a way to support local businesses that, in turn, support the community.
Chain stores return very little of what their stores take in back to the communities where they operate, she said. A recent study in Maine by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance found that only 14 cents of a dollar spent at a so-called "big box" store remains in the state's economy.
In contrast, the study found that independent retailers spend more than half their revenue locally. They bank at local banks, hire local accountants, advertise in local media and require many other local services that chains do not.
The whole month of June, Mary Weiss, proprietor of Corniche on Water Street, displayed cookbooks that Hospice Grieving Children's Program in Gardiner was selling to raise money for its lending library.
"(Customers) support us and we support the community in a way the big box stores can't or won't do," Weiss said.
Paula Collier, an artist from South Gardiner, said she always tries to shop locally. Tuesday afternoon, Collier and her friend, Louise LaMarque Main, of Pittston, met at A1 To Go for lunch.
"This year I bought all my annuals at Harvey's (Hardware) and did it specifically because I wanted to shop locally," said Collier, of Pittston. "I shop at Reny's and I go to Steve's to get my art framed and I bank here. It saves on gas. I only have to travel five miles instead of 15."
LaMarque said she enjoys eating at local restaurants like the Mad Dog Pub on Water Street.
Edgerton said now's the time parents have to start thinking about buying school supplies and school clothes for their children.
School supplies can be found at the bricks-and-mortar stores in town like Reny's, but also up the street at Hannaford or Rite Aid.
Heidi Hilton, owner of Raggamuffins, a consignment store on Water Street, said she carries all brands including Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle and Gap.
The previously owned clothing -- used or never been worn -- is screened, washed and ironed before it goes out on the hangers.
Hilton said she donates clothing to local churches and from time to time helps out fire victims and people who are not as well off as others.
"I live in Pittston and try to shop locally whenever I can," Hilton said. "Before I bought the store, I shopped here two or three times a week. We have unique jewelry and accessories -- purses and belts -- so you can do a whole outfit that would cost you $75 at the mall for under $20 at our store."
Sarah Smith, of Randolph, a registered nurse at the MaineGeneral Medical Center, said stores in town have the same brand names as the big box stores and at decent prices.
"I think about the quality and saving money," Smith said. "I'm not travelling as much and I'm being more conservative to save on gas."
April Hall, supervisor at Reny's, said stores in the big shopping malls can't match Reny's personal relationship it has with its customers.
In Gardiner, she said many of the people who shop at Reny's actually walk to their store, especially the elderly.
"We have regular customers and have that personal interaction with them because they do keep coming," Hall said. "They don't have that at the bigger stores. And by coming here they're saving on gas."
Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408
mcooper@centralmaine.com
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