Shop Local … Service Providers
by Derek Wenzel, Wenzel & Wenzel, PLLC
In the last several years there has been a bigger push to buy local products from small local businesses and farmers, between Buy Haywood, Small Business Saturday, Farm to Table and the urges to “shop local” to support the economy near them. It is often forgotten that this trend should apply to local service providers as well in order to keep quality professionals in Haywood County and as another way to support our local economy and our own businesses.
The world of service providers has been changing at a fast pace mainly due to the internet. The number online tax filing sites such as TurboTax continues to grow. Real estate sites such as Zilow are increasing. Telemedicine has become a fast growing trend where employees can videochat with a doctor in another state or city, tell describe your symptoms, and get a prescription or diagnosis without ever having to leave their desks. Last month the North Carolina Bar settled a law suit with LegalZoom that would permit the company to continue and expand operations in North Carolina.
In a world where Amazon is growing faster than WalMart and we all expect to have immediate gratification for a cheaper price by a click on our smartphone or tablet, I still believe that the best quality products come from local farmers, producers, vendors and shops. I also believe that the best services you can get come from local service providers. These local professionals are an integral part of the local economy as well, providing numerous jobs and local buying power. I would suggest, therefore, that the next time you hear the words “shop local” or “support your local economy” that you remember that these words also apply to the local service providers in Haywood County as well.