Ruralite Cafe: Published 03/06/03

By Lynn Hotaling - Associate Editor

Student group backs shopping locally

WCU's chapter of the national organization Students in Free Enterprise has taken as its mission the goal of encouraging fellow students and area residents that they should make as many purchases as possible right here in Jackson County.

Franklin High School graduate Jason Thomas, now a student in WCU's entrepreneurship program and a SIFE member, stopped by the newspaper office last week to explain the group's plan to assist the community in understanding the ways shopping at home builds and cultivates the local economy.

"Our campaign will urge people to buy local and keep their money here," Thomas said.

The SIFE students have assembled packets they plan to supply at no cost to participating area businesses. Included will be posters and bumper stickers expressing the "Support Your Local Economy" theme as well as fact sheets that can be passed out to customers to spread the word about the widespread benefits of supporting businesses in your home town.

An outgrowth of the students' entrepreneurship class taught by Jim and Joann Carland, the shop local project will be WCU's SIFE chapter's entry in the organization's national competition in April, Thomas said, and the students are hoping for widespread acceptance and support from local business leaders.

"We'd like to see members of the community who have something to gain from our campaign rally behind it so we can effect change and plant the idea in people's heads to look in Sylva first for items they need so the money stays in Sylva," Thomas said. "We hope they'll help us put this issue in front of people who wouldn't otherwise think about it."

The SIFE students have already made a commercial featuring several local establishments - City Lights, Jackson's General Store, Motion Makers and Judy's Bridal - that includes business owners sharing their perspective on what their stores have to offer the community and their thoughts on supporting the local economy.

To support their claim that shopping close to home stimulates the local economy because it fosters the growth of small businesses, SIFE members offer the following facts:

- Small businesses create 75 percent of new jobs.

- Small businesses produce 55 percent of innovations.

- Small business ownership has been accelerating among women and minorities, giving these groups new opportunities.

- Small businesses account for 47 percent of sales in the nation.

Without strong local support, Thomas said, one-third of small businesses will not survive their first two years.

It's great to see WCU students taking an interest in the local economy. Sylva's recent downtown renaissance has been fueled in part by Main Street's thriving small businesses, and we're happy to help spread the word about the students' plans to spotlight the benefits of shopping close to home.

Business owners interested in participating in the SIFE chapter's project can find out more by calling 227-4669 or emailing wcusife@wcu.edu.

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