Shop Milford! It's personal

Milford is proud to be the birthplace of the American conservation movement. We can also brag about being surrounded by federal and state forests, waterfalls, hiking trails, unique specialty shops, and great eateries. It is what brings tourists here and what local residents work hard to preserve. So think about this: your buying decisions can and do change the character of where you live. Milford’s future economic development depends on you. That’s why we, members of the Milford Business Council, are eager to spread the word about how shopping locally is vital. We’ve started a campaign called Shop Milford! and we’d like to tell you about it. Supporting local businesses will not only prevent empty storefronts, which no one wants to see, but will promote the financial well-being of our community and will foster a healthier environment. By shopping locally, you are helping to put money back into the local economy, and helping to create more jobs for teens and adults in our community. Moreover, it is our local business owners who contribute to local causes, from school projects and youth groups, to hospitals, to civic projects, to churches and temples and more. The owners are your friends and your neighbors. So ask yourself this: wouldn’t you rather shop in a store or eat in a restaurant that was locally owned? Your patronage would be appreciated so much more than if you walked into a nationally run chain - because it’s personal. By shopping locally, you are helping to reduce the environmental impact of transportation on our area. Supporting locally owned shops and restaurants (who tend to purchase goods and services from each other) will make locally grown food more available….food that is fresher and requires far less energy to transport to market. There is little at the mall some 40 miles away that you cannot find in your own home town. Even better, you can find unique items at local specialty shops that you won’t find in the big stores. Local retailers, in fact, are like your personal shoppers in that they try to deliver what you want or need at any given time. You don’t get that kind of customer service anywhere else - as a matter of fact, if you get any kind of customer service at a department store, you’re lucky. We do not mean to suggest there aren’t many of you who do already know this; many locally-owned businesses have loyal customers who live here. They tell us that they stay away from malls and shop in town for all of the reasons outlined above, and more. They are the customers we love to brag about, and truly appreciate. As the Shop Milford! campaign evolves, local shoppers will be acknowledged. So stay tuned: there will be more news about this in the upcoming days and weeks. Linda Fields, for The Milford Business Council