Let's see, I can think of at least three Haines retailers who market floor coverings. I'm not sure about installation. I had a local carpenter nail down the oak flooring I got from Lutak Lumber eons ago. I snapped in some snap together floor covering myself; same with the paint - bought it locally and slathered it on myself. I have to admit though that I am not a very high-end type of gal.
I imagine the Home Depot CEO is very "high end" indeed. After Nardelli was let go with a $210 million severance package, the Home Deport Board of Directors hired Frank Blake for just $975,000 annually plus a cash bonus of three times his salary if he accomplishes certain performance targets.
Maybe one of those "targets" is to reach out to outlying communities like ours. According to the Senior Center manager, who did raise the topic of "buying local" with the Home Depot representative who contacted her, Home Depot considers Haines "local" from Juneau. Hmmmm... interesting. I tend to define "local businesses" as businesses that pay sales and property taxes to the Haines Borough. Now, as far as I know, Home Depot is coming to Haines to encourage us to shop in Juneau - at their store - either in person or by phone. Either way, I don't see any additional sales or property tax revenue coming our way as a result of their outreach.
"Buy Local" campaigns are springing up all over the country and the world. Why? It seems to have something to do with a sense that vibrant communities have an ineffable sense of place, and that that sense of place comes partly from independent businesses locally owned that serve local tastes and reflect each owner's preferences. And think about this:
Local owners, typically having invested much of their life savings in their businesses, have a natural interest in the community's long-term health. Community-based businesses are essential to charitable endeavors; their owners frequently serve on local boards and support numerous causes. (The Benefits of Doing Business Locally, downloaded from the American Independent Business Alliance.)Sure sounds like the local business owners in Haines to me. I don't know of any Juneau merchants on our boards. But I do know that when Costco and Fred Myers were approached last year to help underwrite the Southeast Alaska State Fair (which takes place here in Haines), they said, "No." Costco and Freddy's told the Fair manager that they only support "local" causes. Looks like Home Depot is about to enlarge Juneau's definition of local.
Home Depot's website has a page called Corporate Governance Overview. It says that Home Depot strives to "...understand the impact we have on people and communities... ." Me too. I want to understand the impact shopping in Juneau has on the community of Haines. I want to know if shopping in Juneau helps supports the Dolphin Swim Team, the Haines Glacier Bears, the DDF Team. Maybe it does but studies show that
Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller locally owned businesses than they do from large national businesses. Top Ten Reasons to Choose Locally Owned Businesses, from the Sustainable Business Network of Portland.And then there is this hard cold fact: A nationally owned store's profits are promptly exported to corporate headquarters. In the case of Home Depot, that would be Atlanta, GA. Let's see, corporate headquarters for Haisler Hardware, Haines Home Building, Lutak Lumber, Miles Upholstry are where? Oh yes, Haines, Alaska. It's a good bet that their profits will be in part pumped right back into our community. Maybe Home Depot will support the Southeast Alaska Fair this year if we are very good customers.
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