Op-ED: Support Our Local Retailers

The following is an op-ed from State Senator Katherine Clark:

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Hunt’s Photo & Video in Melrose to present Hunt’s leadership team with a citation in recognition of their recent award as the 2011 Massachusetts Retailer of the Year.  Hunt’s Photo & Video received this honor from the Retailers Association of Massachusetts for its excellent customer service, highly trained and experienced sales staff, and competitive pricing.

Since 1952, the Farber family has built Hunt’s into a powerhouse in the field of photography, video and digital imaging.  Growing from its original drugstore in Malden, today the company, run by Scott and Gary Farber, operates in four states and is the largest digital imaging equipment retailer in New England.  Over these decades, in good economic times and challenging ones, Hunt’s has proven that outstanding customer service, superior product knowledge, and a strong commitment to community are the best recipe for business success – even in the face of stiff competition from large, multinational chains.

Hunt’s story is just one of the many success stories of small businesses in our communities. According to the most recent data available from the Small Business Administration, small businesses in Massachusetts account for nearly 48 percent of our private sector jobs. During this holiday season, when we consider how to spend our shopping dollars, I encourage you to visit these businesses and see how much they have to offer.  And when you do, you’ll find that these small businesses have tremendous experience, knowledgeable staff and product insight.  They also offer very competitive pricing and most give back directly to our communities by hiring our friends and neighbors and donating to local causes and charitable organizations.

It is also true that our local retailers are facing direct competition from national chain stores and virtual outlets.  For example, online retailers like Amazon are aggressively targeting retail stores of all sizes with promotions that give customers discounts if they use smart-phone apps to compare prices while inside a physical store.

We want all businesses to succeed, whether they are online or brick-and-mortar.  But we also should think about what our spending decisions might mean for the retailers in our communities. As Vice Chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Community Development, I will continue to work on state programs and policies that best support our local businesses.  And I know you will join me in considering the great value of shopping locally this holiday season.