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The beat is strong in Hereford
There was a time, not so long ago, when running errands
meant hopping in the car with the kids, swinging by the local
farm or grocery, saying hello at the post office and then stopping
for an ice cream or bite to eat at the local restaurant. You knew
everyone’s name along the way and inquired about their son’s
baseball game or maybe they’d check in on you to make sure
everyone was doing well after the recent bought of the flu.
I’m talking about small town America. I’m talking about a time
when the heart of our country’s commerce beat at the center
of the small family businesses which were owned and operated
by our friends and neighbors.
Some folks were lucky enough to have a store front, others
operated out of their basements, garages or sheds. It wasn’t
always fancy but you knew what you were getting and could trust the business owners because there was no doubt that they were honest and stood behind the products and services they’d provide.
You also knew where your money was going – to Johnny’s college fund or to help put a new roof on the Smith’s old farm house. Neighbors took care of each other and supported the businesses in their community because that is what made the world go ‘round.
Well guess what…that same feeling is still alive and well in Hereford. Many of the old businesses have come and gone or changed hands as new families moved in to the area but there are also plenty of businesses whose shingles bear the names of families who have made this community their home for decades.
Whether a business is new or well established, the Hereford Zone Business Association (HZBA) wants you to get out there and shop local, shop Hereford. “Patronizing businesses in Hereford helps support our friends and neighbors and keeps our spending dollars in our community” says Kathy Rus, president of the HZBA.
Kathy came up with the idea for the HZBA Business Expo a couple of years ago because she felt like “there were all these businesses in the Hereford area that no one knew about, and people were traveling down to Baltimore or Towson to do business while businesses right here were looking for customers.”
She is also a big proponent of the 3/50 project – “Save Your Local Economy… Three Stores at a Time”. The number 3 represents thinking of three independently owned stores you’d miss if they were gone. Stop in, say hello, and pick a little something up. That’s how they stay around. The number 50 represents the number of local dollars spent by half of the employed U.S. population which would generate $42,629,700,000 in revenue. For every $100 spent in independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. In a national chain, only $43 stays here.
“I make it a policy to try and shop local stores and businesses whenever possible. I know it is not always possible but why should I drive 20-30 minutes to buy wine from a big discount liquor store instead of going to Troyer’s, or groceries from Wal-Mart instead of Graul’s? Yes, I may save $10, but what about my time and my gas? And when I am collecting donations for the Fire Dept, will that big box store give me a donation, the way Troyer’s and Graul’s do? And if Troyer’s or Graul’s go out of business because everyone is shopping elsewhere, then what if I need something quick?”
These were the things going through Kathy’s mind when she came up with the idea for the HZBA Business Expo a couple of years ago. The Hereford community, of all ages, is invited to Summit Manor (behind Hereford Volunteer Fire Department) from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, February 11th for a fun, FREE day to meet and support over 60 local businesses and community groups. There are activities planned for the children, free give-a-ways, prize drawings, food for sale and one lucky visitor of the event will be going home with the Grand Prize, a 40” 1080 pixel, flat screen TV.
It’s a day that’s sure to be fun for all and, as Kathy points out, “at least Troyer’s and Graul’s have stores and everyone knows they are there. Businesses without a store or office in town have it even harder—there are computer programmers, appraisers, lawyers, painters, contractors, music teachers, cleaners, financial planners, etc. all over this town. I have a lot of small business clients and I know that they are struggling to get business, just to let people know they are out there. That is who I am trying to help with the Expo—people who maybe don’t have a “bricks and mortar” presence in town, and who maybe can’t afford expensive print advertising or big signs. If people know these businesses exist and are here and start to do business with them—the entire economy of the town improves.”
So mark the date on your calendar and bring the family out to the expo (click here for all of the details). When you get there, be sure to stop by The Zone’s booth on the second floor, we’d love to meet you!
------Jennifer Kline
The Heartbeat of America
