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Shop Locally

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James F. McCollum

Published: August 14, 2008

The Sebring Chamber of Commerce has reminded us to shop locally. What a great concept! With all of the growth of the "Big Boys" on the highway, we seem to have forgotten that basic idea.

I would like to suggest we narrow that request even more. I would urge you to deal with locally owned businesses. The chamber of commerce cannot make such a suggestion because its membership includes many nationally owned businesses; however I can, as a private citizen (by the way, these businesses do very much for our community and sometimes you have not choice.) However, their large advertising budgets and consistently adequate service make it difficult for customers to remember some of our local folks.

I don't want to tarnish my reputation for being hard to please, but this time of the year it's just "us home folk." Let's not forget our locally owned Sebring businesses. Frequently, they have so much more to offer.

Consider for the moment Mae Lee's pesto beef sandwich or her "po boy." The "big guys" have nothing to compete with them and they are incredible. Her fries are always hot and she always has a smile on her face.

Likewise, Charlie's Restaurant has incredible food. I had shrimp scampi last week. It was a beautiful presentation and the friendly staff more than compensated for the cutsie jingles of the advertising of the "Big Boys."

Brenner's Potter is Sebring's best kept secret for gifts. Wilson's is a great little shoe store. Let's not forget our locally owned pharmacies. Gilbert's and Heartland are incredibly helpful. I have found that Highlands Office Supply usually beats the prices of the larger big box office supply stores and if you can wait until tomorrow they can usually obtain everything the "Big Boys" have. So Highlands County, I pledge to choose to shop locally.

Keep in mind, in this economy, if you buy from the local people and they buy from local people, your neighbor might be able to find a job and the profits stay in town. Maybe you can even pay your local attorney.

James F. McCollum
Attorney at Law
Sebring

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