This is a good opportunity to continue the discussion of how “big box” retailers impact the local community. Now that Home Depot is no longer an unknown, we can talk about real experiences. It is like an elephant in a living room, too large to ignore and often too awkward to point out to your host or guest.

I think one of the more interesting points to watch will be the one about all the extra money that was supposed to leave town because of the additional shopping people did when they went to Albany. Can we now plan for that money to stay in town and be spent locally? This could be a great opportunity for new businesses and diversification of existing ones.

Corvallis is on the threshold of a fundamental shift in how our community defines its identity. Will it be shaped by “formula” stores that base their inventory and customer service on a national business plan? Or will it continue to support locally owned, independently operated businesses that draw from their community’s needs and desires?

Once small businesses are lost to national chains, it is extremely difficult to convince someone else to invest their family’s future in an unknown environment. The best things an established business have going for it are loyal customers, community awareness, and an intimate familiarity of local business cycles. The new business trying to replace a longstanding local business that was forced to close because of national competition has a very low rate of success.

The Corvallis Independent Business Alliance is not opposed to growth or national businesses. We are just committed to helping support and nourish local ownership. This is a significant and fundamental difference. We believe that giving the “local option” the first choice is in our community’s best long-term interest.

It is very important to understand that, just because you went to Home Depot and maybe purchased something, you should not feel awkward about coming back to your local store. Curiosity about something new is natural. It is understandable to shop around, consider bargains and compare offerings. Business owners understand the nature of competition: That is why they value your patronage so much. They know you have a choice, and when you choose them, they take it as an endorsement of their business practices and personal standards.

Don’t think the small sale is not important. While the large purchases obviously directly affect the profit of the business more, it is often the small, regular sales that make a significant difference in the final bottom line profit of the business. Why do you think the big stores try to lure customers with loss leaders, place them to the rear of their stores and surround the sale items with lots of attractive displays of small impulse odds and ends? I hope you don’t make only the small purchases locally, but I want you to understand how important it is to continue whatever level of patronage you are comfortable with.

If you visit Home Depot, I hope you go there with your eyes wide open. Ask questions; study a broad range of prices and items. Will the level of service still be the same after six months? After two years? How convenient was the location? How much time was spent getting there and back? How about personal interactions with other shoppers?

Please check local prices before making a final decision. If you see something you like, tell your local merchant. Also, if there is something about local businesses that you would like to see improved, tell them. They will appreciate your consideration.