WMPID Supports Local Businesses and You Can Too. Shop Local!

Black Friday and Small Business Saturday have officially launched the holiday shopping season! Westwood Magnolia Improvement District (WMPID), as part of their support of hometown businesses, encourages everyone to shop local before going online. Shopping in the District is a festive experience that goes beyond “add to cart” to put you in the holiday spirit. It’s an easy way for the community to show their support. 

WMPID makes sure you can get out and shop local with peace of mind. The Mounted Patrol public safety program that WMPID implemented in October 2020 has received funding for another year. Alpha & Omega Mounted Patrol adds another layer of security for the Westwood Village Shopping Center. These mounted troopers work hand-in-hand with local law enforcement to provide extra eyes and ears to protect the community in our commercial areas. And they add to the festive atmosphere. One of the most special things about the Mounted Patrol is its approachability. People of all ages are drawn to the horses, and the troopers are expecting to be approached because interacting with the public is part of their job. They have coloring books and trading cards to give to the kids, and plenty of stories to tell. 

Shop Local and Gain the Benefits

Ideally, community members would shop local all year long to create the greatest impact on our local economy, but holiday shopping is a great reason to visit local shops and retailers to see what they have to offer. Remember, purchasing gift cards is also a great way to show support. But keep in mind, it’s not just business owners who benefit. The entire community wins when you shop local.

1. Builds Local Communities: When you support local businesses, you are supporting your friends, family, and neighbors. These business owners are the people who you see while grocery shopping and who support community activities like youth sports. Their livelihood uplifts everyone’s quality of life. According to a study conducted by Trulia and noted in Forbes, the second most popular desire amongst people is a stronger sense of community. Frequenting local restaurants and shops can promote this.
2. Strengthen the Local Economy to Promote Future Growth: Each business success promotes the expansion of existing establishments and attracts other businesses. This is important for economic and community vitality and encourages entrepreneurship.
3. Local Small Businesses Add Character: Small businesses like bakeries or boutiques add character and charm that can be an additional draw for tourists, as well as folks from neighboring communities.
4. Creates More Jobs and Opportunities:  According to the Small Business Association, small businesses added 8 million jobs since 1990. Small businesses are more likely to be people-oriented, more likely to be community-oriented, and more likely to support local causes.
5. Tax Dollars Stay Local and Reenter the Community: When you shop local in WMPID this holiday season, you support your neighbors and build community, while keeping tax revenue and jobs in WMPID. The funds are used to fix streets, fund school programs, and support day-to-day operations. National statistics show that for every dollar spent at a small business, 67 cents stays within your local economy. This is even higher in WMPID since one cent of sales tax remains local. In addition to helping schools and other organizations through taxes, small businesses are often the organizations that support local youth programs, charities, and events.
6. More Personalized Customer Service: There is something special about shopping at a local store where the owners greet you as you walk in the door and want to make your dining or shopping experience the best possible. 

There really isn’t any downside when it comes to shopping local. Business owners will always evaluate their local and national competitors to offer higher quality products at the prices that consumers can afford. Communities are made stronger when you take the time to visit your local stores before shopping online.

WMPID Support for Local Businesses

In addition to funding safety measures, WMPID supports local businesses with the business data tool on their website. Through this free geographic information system (GIS) planning tool, in-depth demographics can be researched. The tool showcases the properties available to be developed, the talents and availability of employees, and the types of businesses, services, and manufacturing that WMPID seeks.

WMPID also identifies and funds local infrastructure improvements. Growth within the District has been remarkable and WMPID’s infrastructure projects have helped to make that possible. Projects like the extension of Research Forest Drive have made it easier for people to access District shopping attractions, generating $1.494 billion in revenue, 38 percent of which is attributable to this access.