Smaller community economies are an ecosystem that has to operate in careful and deliberate balance. The box retail model allows for individual stores to take losses to drive out competitors and gain market share.
Stores of this type can work in urbanized areas but in small towns, they actually cost the community jobs. Impact of a Dollar General is at best “neutral” in terms of revenue taken from other retailers, but in most cases actually takes enough from existing business to cost jobs while not returning an amount greater than that cost back to the community.
I’m disheartened by the attitudes of some supporters of box retail regarding how they view local business owners. Suggesting that people who have decades of retail experience “make up” numbers, or desire to “overcharge.”
Our local employers are community-minded people who deserve our support. A local business in Grand Marais cannot undersell box stores and remain open. Retail margins are slim and each retailer has many costs to cover while trying to preserve jobs and make a living.
I find inappropriate the often profane rhetoric against those not viewed as sufficiently “local” that choose to spend their money here, buy homes and cabins, and have sincere appreciation for our unique town.
In pure economic terms, tourism is responsible for 80 percent of the Cook County economy—higher than any other county in Minnesota. We should be very cautious regarding activities that would do damage to this central revenue source. These people being attacked so rudely are our customers and are also taxpayers. To insult and degrade them harms our reputation, economy, and our ability to grow as a community. There is no place for bigotry in this discussion.
Yes we can and should look at ways to diversify our economy and help those in challenging economic circumstances. But we should do so in a way that reflects our values and what makes Grand Marais so unique. We should focus on sustainable, socially responsible business models—not the nationalized and predatory model of box retail.
Matt Butler
Grand Marais
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