Tired of Seeing Local Businesses Close? Be Proactive and Shop Locally.
A reader recently commented on the amount of business closures the Rancho Cordova area has seen recently. It seems that for every new business that opens, an established business closes. Other readers and Facebook friends have discussed the local shopping scene in Rancho. Some of the missing amenities that have been recently mentioned by readers and Facebook friends include: a book store, a shoe store, more clothing retailers, and more grocery shopping options.
With all of the seeming potential for new businesses to succeed, it makes one wonder about the local business climate. An interactive map featured on Sacbee.com shows which areas of Sacramento are seeing the most business closures.
After taking a look at the map, what do you notice? The glaring red areas of Rancho Cordova, the Sheldon area and the area west of Rio Linda are pretty hard to miss. In the greater Rancho area, the percent of vacancies hovers between 17.5% and 20%. While that may seem like an outrageously high number, consider parts of the Arden Arcade, Folsom, and Rocklin areas that are seeing vacancy percentages of 30% and higher.
More rural areas such as Galt, Twin Cities, Rancho Murieta, and Pilot Hill seem to be doing a bit better than their urban neighbors. Is this because there are fewer shopping options available further from the city? Or is it because rural communities support their own? In any case, at least according to the vacancy map, businesses in rural communities are currently enjoying higher rates of survival.
Many of the community members who commented on the Facebook discussion about local shopping expressed an important concern regarding the lack of consumer options in Rancho. While we may not have a super-sized bookstore or an outlet mall, Rancho is home to many locally owned businesses. In order to support our local community, it’s vital that we do our best to spend our shopping dollars at home. According to a study conducted by Civic Economics, for every $1 spent in a locally owned business $0.68 is returned to the local economy. For every $1 spend at a big box store, $0.43 is returned to the local economy.
If we want to see fewer vacant buildings in our community, we have a responsibility to spend our money locally. While you may not be able to find everything you need just around the corner, there are plenty of businesses that would be overjoyed to have your business.
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Short URL: http://www.ranchocordovapost.com/?p=8628
Posted by Michelle Ventress
on Mar 2 2010. Filed under Business, News.
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I think alot if most of us shop locally, the problem like Jack in the Box is ecominic times have hit them hard too! In listening to the news this morning, I had to laugh, as they said the recession is turning around, yet the unemployment rate is up. I think that everyday public sometimes have a better conception of this recession and what it is doing right now, then most in other offices. I am hoping that we can get new businesses, but in speaking to some it seems that the perception of our city is what maybe a desiding factor for some. Also, I also think that they really do not completly understand the make up of our community, and feels that financially this area is not a viable arena for there businesses. Our future will be bright we just have to get that grass roots mentallity.