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Perception vs. reality

The perception is that is costs you more to shop locally than to drive to Lafayette, Logansport or Kokomo to do your shopping. I'm here to tell you that it just isn't true.

As a board member of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce and a local business owner it is imperative that citizens of Carroll County shop in Carroll County. Mentioned in a recent Carroll County Comet was a comparative study between Flora's Stephan's IGA and a West Lafayette Payless Supermarket. The facts are that a week's worth of identical grocery items only cost 28¢ more at IGA in Flora. Take into consideration your mileage costing an additional $8.68 to travel to and from West Lafayette and your time savings of not having to drive outside of the county and you are saving money and time by shopping locally. Not to mention the personal service and carry-out that you will only receive from a locally owned store.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you have to purchase everything you buy locally and there may be items that you won't find in Carroll County, but I'm saying to start here first.

Since this initial shopping comparison other people I have spoke to have been comparing items in and out of county and you will find equal if not better quality at lower prices on several things such as lumber, furniture, lawn and garden items, flowers, jewelry, appliances, beauty products, pharmacy items, tires and more.

Five years ago when we met and developed the plan for Carroll County at the Crossroads we had over 220 people attend and with those in attendance it was determined that economic development was overwhelmingly the most important priority to our county. How can we turn that priority into action? It starts right here in Carroll County with the citizens of Carroll County shopping and utilizing services right here.

As a business owner we open our doors everyday for YOU the customer and we want to continue to open our doors for many years to come. We want to do business with local people and we want you to feel comfortable doing business with us. Let's face it, the future of all business owners in Carroll County are dependent upon the people of Carroll County buying in Carroll County.

Michelle Pearson, Jackson-Lee-Pearson

(business owner)

Carroll County

Chamber of Commerce (marketing committee and

board member)