The Border's in Keene, NH is going out of business...

Every once in a while there is victory for the "little guy".

Two communities that couldn't be further removed will be touched by the invisible hand of the "free market" in the next few days.

One will certainly be better off and the other looks like it will be celebrating what I hope will be the beginning of another 33 and 1/3 years.  While the Borders in Keene NH has a giant Going Out of Business sign in the window, Carmichael's Bookstore in Louisville is preparing for a big party.  Not to celebrate the closing of the Borders in Keene NH (though I hope they will read this post and add that to their reason for celebrating).

Here in Keene, Toadstool Books (an independently owned) local book seller with three locations in Southwestern NH has beaten the odds.   This isn't always how the "story" ends.  

When I was in college I worked for Paul's Pet, a family owned fixture of a pet store that had been a member of the community for at least 20 years.  The store was being run by the second generation of the Willis family, a family that was a pleasure to work for.  They did the little things that really made a difference to a young kid in college (like paying me time and a half on Sunday??)  Unfortunately, within 4 or 5 years of the day PETCO opened their doors Andy's store closed their's for the last time.  When my friend Andy initially announced his plans to close the store, the outpouring of support was so overwhelming that he decided to delay his plans to see if the community would continue to rally and stand by their promise to keep him in business. Alas, for Andy (and really the whole community.... Andy's accountant, his advertising reps, his local vendors, the whole "team") the commitment ran about as deep as the income tax returns that many of his patrons were promising to spend. Paul's Pet is gone forever and Andy now has a job "working for the man".  

I never thought I would see Borders (in the very same community) fall to this economy while Toadstool Bookshops survives.  It's really quite inspiring.... events like this give me hope that the "buy local" message is gaining traction. I really hope so.  It is small business that will save this economy and if the closure of Borders is an indication that people are starting to "get" that... woooo hoooo!

 I was really feeling good this afternoon just thinking about it.

Then, tonight I was at a Financial Peace University (Dave Ramsey) class at my church and after the presentation we all broke into small groups and the conversation was largely focused on saving money through sales at different chain retailers and big box stores that would match the lowest price.  My bubble was burst.  I left realizing that most people still don't get it.  There is no saving money at Walmart or any other chain.  They are like a giant black hole that pulls money out of our community to someplace else.

So it's been a real roller coaster... I went from celebrating the fact that Toadstool Books had taken down Goliath to realizing most of the people I know had little to do with that, and really didn't care, nor understand the significance.  Back to Blogging!

I'm happy that when I got home I found an article about Carmichael's Bookstore celebrating 33 and 1/3 years in business on Louisville.com.  I have never been to Louisville, but if I ever get there, I will most certainly be paying a visit to what appears to be a very eclectic and talented, family owned business.  You gotta read this article. It is so inspiring to appreciate the resilience of this little business since their meager start in 1978 just four years after a devastating tornado ripped down the street they would help to revive.

I don't know if there is a Boarder's in Louisville, but if there is I just want to send a shout out to the owners of Charmichael's - keep doing what your doing, the sleeping giant is starting to wake up and I will keep beating this drum, I promise.   

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PayLessFirst is a local business with a national vision. We seek to help local merchants to compete with big box stores, itinerant retailers, and online competitors by educating consumers on the benefits of “buying local”.  We also promote and maintain an online directory of independently-owned, local businesses for the encouragement & convenience of conscientious shopping.   Our website is also a self serve marketing tool that allows small business owners to publish, manage and sell customized coupons/ store credits to online shoppers in their community.