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Spending Bucks in Your Own Backyard
Even though David McKay wasn’t even born when his parents Jim and Marilyn McKay opened their first Leonardtown grocery store in 1948, growing up in his parent’s “mom and pop” store he learned that running a successful small business is hard work - especially in today’s marketplace flooded with discount stores and national chains.
Today, many Southern Maryland residents like McKay, now chairman and CEO of McKay’s Food and Pharmacy, are strong believers in buying from and supporting local, small businesses. Many small, locally owned businesses are like an old friend - always there when you need them.
Posted by: Sammy on 07/23 at 07:15 AM
- 1 · Small businesses that support and are supported by the community are the backbone of America not Congressional Pork.
Comment by jdman1 on 07/23 at 08:34 AM | Back to Top - 2 · McKay runs a good store and deserves our business. Unlike a lot of independent businesses, he is not trying to retire on the next transaction. Pricing is very important and most independents think they can rely solely on loyalty for survival while fleecing their customers. McKay is not one of those and will continue to do well inspite of competition.
Comment by Iamangttia on 07/23 at 05:03 PM | Back to Top - 3 · I always try to support small businesses before the chains- but we dont have enough small business owners- unless you count the franchises.
I also if possible shop and spend my money in Charles County than another County or State as the sales tax helps our County.
A man must learn to understand the motives of human beings, their illusions, and their sufferings. einstein
Comment by BJGoodwin on 07/23 at 06:20 PM | Back to Top - 4 · "I always try to support small businesses before the chains- but we dont have enough small business owners- unless you count the franchises.
I also if possible shop and spend my money in Charles County than another County or State as the sales tax helps our County."
You are truly an oustanding citizen in your own right--whatever that means. It sounds good though. But let me tell you a little flip-side. There is a company in Waldorf that does a lot of charitable things and as part of that effort, it has to solicit donations and material items from other companies in Charles County. Notwithstanding their large size, both WalMart and Sams Club account for at least 50% of the contributions to that companies' charitable efforts and I know for a fact that almost none of the public has any clue that either of those companies have made a contribution. I hate to hear people criticise these National and large corporations just because they are not good for the small businessman. WalMart, for example, started out as a one store operation and because they had a good business plan, are what they are today.
Comment by Iamangttia on 07/23 at 08:36 PM | Back to Top - 5 · I liked Wal Mart when old Sam was alive- I did not like it so much after he died when it became more about profit at ALL costs than promoting USA goods and the lowest prices that could be offered while keeping their suppliers a decent living.
There contributions to a community Target and Walmart is good- the rest they need to work on again.
Sometimes the lowest price shouldnt be the be all if it puts suppliers out of business or keeps foriegn workers in sweatshop conditions and poverty.
A man must learn to understand the motives of human beings, their illusions, and their sufferings. einstein
Comment by BJGoodwin on 07/23 at 09:43 PM | Back to Top - 6 · Sometimes the lowest price shouldnt be the be all if it puts suppliers out of business or keeps foriegn workers in sweatshop conditions and poverty.
Or puts Americans out of jobs due to looking for the cheapest materials and cheapest labor to make the cheapest goods offered at the lowest-of-low prices to keep consumers spending for "economic health."
I don't buy into charity as demonstrated by WalMart. I've often thought it is nothing more than a selling point so they can get their foot in the door of a locale where there is resistance. On a local level Chaney donates much to charities, too, and...then...when the chips are down and a rezoning is wanted, we are reminded just HOW much Chaney does! Charity work by BigBusiness...from the heart OR not?
Comment by seahorse on 07/24 at 07:59 AM | Back to Top - 7 · Westinghouse put the "ice man" out of business but I'm guessing everyone here owns a refrigerator, right? Progress is fine, it's expected. Sometimes, BJ, price IS everything. I, for one, can't afford to squandor my earnings to try to help somebody else get by. I do what I can but it has to be worth it for me as well. I buy my meats at Nick's because I like their meats more than the big grocers' or the commissary's. I buy my gas from Safeway or WaWa because it's cheaper than a mom & pop gas station. Try standing up a new office without buying your materials from WalMart or BJ's. I support The Charles Street Bakery, the only real bakery left in Charles County, because you get quality products and personal service.
The "bottom line" is, if you can get the exact same product cheaper at a national chain as compared to a locally owned store, you'd be fool to throw away your money. When you get something more for your money by buying from a local vendor, do it! Common sense.
Comment by Birdman on 07/24 at 09:41 AM | Back to Top - 8 · "Charity work by BigBusiness...from the heart OR not?"
Take away the charitable tax deductions and then you'll get another dose of reality concerning 'heart or not'.
"Or puts Americans out of jobs due to looking for the cheapest materials and cheapest labor to make the cheapest goods offered at the lowest-of-low prices to keep consumers spending for "economic health.""
Nothing is made in the USA anymore so how can we criticize WalMart for stocking so many products made in China? Check out your Ma and Pa stores and see how much made in the USA products are on their shelves.
Comment by Iamangttia on 07/24 at 11:49 AM | Back to Top - 9 · My point of contention is that Walmart as an example- did promote American made goods at a good price.
After SAM died the bttom line then was LOWEST price. Due to orders factories in AMerica could make the goods at the Walmart price and make a profit.
Then Walmart wanted large orders at that orice so these same factories expanded to meet that demand from Walmart at the price agreed on.
Then Walmart would put the pressure onthem to lower the price more, until these factories supplying Walmart had to close.
I know < imagiantion, thats business. But they were used to SAm's philosophy about being treated fairly. They agreed to a servie at a price, expanded to meet the demand because of the conditions put forth by Walmart- and then each year had to cut and cut- until there was nothing left but debt.
Then Walmart went to other suppliers (most notably at the first- (sweatshops)) This was then shown and shops had to agree to abide by set "working conditions" fr a set price for goods.
These guys in foreign Country's started showing what could almost be called "front" factories to show they abided by humane condiitions when a buyer came to "inspect", but the real work is still done by those kept in poverty- a little better poverty but still poverty.
AND why? 5 cent more per day to a mother working in India for 12-15 hours a day could help send her kids to school or to have more nutrious food for her family. She toils to make the 8.99 sweatpants. Haw can an extra 5 cent a day to her- impact so much the price of the one pair of sweatpants when she makes 50 a day?
This is why I talk about Corporate responsibility to be civic and moraly responsible not only to shareholders bottom line- but to reach that bottom line,ethical use of resources, people who work for them and THOSE WHO SUPPLY the stock.
Thats why I usually do not shop at Walmart- I admit sometimes I do, mostly in the summer for plants that I think are American grown.
But even that makes me feel soiled.
Dont nay say until you have investigated and seen or read true accounts of their business.
My stockbroker has a fit because I will not let him invest in Walmart- it was in my portfollio in a fund. When I found it, it was sold- sure it makes money, but I dont want to ake money that way.
I know also other Corporations do foul deeds, this is just one that I know well enough to comment on.
But you guys already know Im an anti -poverty,bleeding heart (conservative, though)soul.
A man must learn to understand the motives of human beings, their illusions, and their sufferings. einstein
Comment by BJGoodwin on 07/24 at 02:07 PM | Back to Top - 10 · "But you guys already know Im an anti -poverty,bleeding heart (conservative, though)soul."
and..."You are truly an oustanding citizen in your own right--whatever that means."
I've seen the documentaries on WalMart and read my share of articles also. I don't know what the total answer is either. Maybe you are preaching to the choir when you should be preaching to China, India, Mexico, Indonesia, Vietnam, etc. to clean up their acts so that they can't be bullied by the likes of WalMart; and, there are thousands of them besides WalMart whose stock you probably now have in your portfolio. It is pervasive and I'm sure WalMart is getting the black eye for all of them just because they happen to be the biggest. That's like blaming developers for Charles County's enormous growth when they are just providing housing for an unstoppable influx of people. Without them, I guess we would just have a lot of tent cities for more people to cry over and complain about.
Comment by Iamangttia on 07/24 at 02:23 PM | Back to Top - 11 · You are so right about the abuses in labor and I wish I had someway to stop it besides making peples plights known and hope the people of the world use their economic power for good persuasion.
I admit, my little strike does not do much....but if thousands do, it CAN make a difference at least in out Country.
ANd if i have to pay a little more I will. I do get mad though if I am fooled- calling something an American made product when it is not.
One prison (I forget which one) in AMerica gets paid by a company to cut off the "made in .... labels (from another country) so new ones saying made in the US can be sewn in.
Now thats fraud I beleive and if its not it should be. I take it very seriously.
A man must learn to understand the motives of human beings, their illusions, and their sufferings. einstein
Comment by BJGoodwin on 07/24 at 02:44 PM | Back to Top - 12 · "One prison (I forget which one) in AMerica gets paid by a company to cut off the "made in .... labels (from another country) so new ones saying made in the US can be sewn in."
Don't worry, anyone who sees a tag that says 'Made in the USA' knows it is a lie.
Comment by Iamangttia on 07/24 at 05:52 PM | Back to Top
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