10/29/2026
Look Local First
As a small business owner—and someone who grew up in a family of small business owners, starting with my grandparents, who owned the first pizza place in my hometown—it should come as no surprise that you often hear me championing Shop Small. Shop Local.
Love where you live. Support where you live. But also recognize the knowledge, familiarity, personal connections, and customer service that come with choosing local businesses.
Story #1: A Beautiful Bouquet and a Local Connection
It was my Mom’s birthday recently, and her grandkids wanted to send her flowers. They don’t live locally, so they could have called “that number” and, most likely, Otto Florist & Gifts in Ware would have received the order. But there’s a price small businesses pay to participate in those services.
Do they help generate business? Absolutely! But do you know which local florist is actually creating and delivering the flowers to your loved one when you use one of those services? Usually, you don’t. And because you don’t know who fulfilled your order, you may never discover that wonderful local florist or become a repeat customer.
My niece took a different approach. She searched for florists local to her grandmother, visited their website, and ordered the beautiful bouquet pictured here the day before her birthday.
The flowers arrived on time, were absolutely beautiful, and lasted for weeks. The best part? It didn’t take her any longer to order directly from Otto Florist than it would have taken to use the other route. Now, she knows she can count on Otto Florist in the future.
What she may not realize is that although Otto’s has had a new owner for quite some time, the business has been part of the community for decades. Like any local business, its future depends on people choosing to support it.
And let’s be honest: not all flowers are created equal. Sure, you can pick up a bouquet at the grocery store or even a convenience store. But those options generally don’t offer the same delivery service, customization, or personal attention. Quality and longevity can vary, too.
Sometimes, looking local first is all it takes to find something better—and build a relationship with a business you might not have discovered otherwise.
Story #2: Trying to Save a Buck? At What Cost?
My next story involves J. Stolar Insurance Agency, Inc. in Three Rivers.
Who remembers when you could pick up the phone, make a call, and actually speak to a real person who could help with your insurance or financial needs?
National chains and online companies may save you a buck or two. But have you ever had to file a claim? How did that go? How long were you on hold? How many automated menus did you have to navigate before you maybe reached an actual person who could help?
And how many online companies offer access to a financial planner at no additional cost—someone who can help you with everything from creating a budget and planning for the future to simply understanding your finances and learning how to take an active role in them, regardless of your age or background?
J. Stolar Insurance is an understated, community-minded business that puts customer service first. When you call, a real person answers. And when you need more than a phone conversation, they’ll take the time to meet with you in person.
Can they help with your insurance needs? Absolutely! Do they offer services you might not even realize are available to you as a customer? You better believe it!
My Mom and I recently met with Will about an annuity policy we needed to address. We knew something needed to be done, but we were scratching our heads trying to figure out what.
Will asked thoughtful questions and took the time to educate us. He didn’t try to sell us anything. He listened. He never made us feel as though our questions were wrong or that we should already know the answers. Instead, he recognized that he needed to do more research before making a recommendation.
That matters.
We then met with Christopher because we needed to make a vehicle registration change and wanted to move some policies over to J. Stolar. Unfortunately, my parents’ longtime agent—once part of a family-owned and operated business that is now owned by a bigger company — no longer operates the same way, and the level of service and support my parents had come to expect has changed.
Nothing we threw at Christopher made him flinch! He asked good questions, took the time to understand what we needed, and never once told us, “You can go online and do that,” or “Sorry, we can’t help you.”
He worked with us.
And that’s the difference.
But there’s another side to J. Stolar that goes beyond insurance and financial services.
Have you ever attended a local fair or community event and spotted a beautifully restored red pickup truck accompanied by members of the J. Stolar family? And by family, I don’t just mean relatives. I mean the people who work there and are part of something bigger than a job.
They show up. They pitch in. They give back.
You’ll find them sponsoring events, coordinating holiday goodie bags for local seniors and veterans, and supporting the community in ways that have nothing to do with selling insurance.
They aren’t just showing up to sell you something. They’re showing up because they care about the community they serve—whether you’re insured through them or not.
That kind of commitment is hard to put a price on.
Story #3: A Little Shop With a Whole Lot of Heart
If you’ve made it this far with me, thank you! I promise this last story is worth it.
I affectionately call her Short Stuff—a woman with a heart of gold, just like her business partner.
Together, they own The Lost Arts LLC in Warren, where they pour their hearts and souls into a truly unique gift shoppe.
They offer items they create themselves alongside beautiful, distinctive pieces made by other local artisans. It’s the kind of place where you can find something special, discover a local maker, and purchase a gift that feels a little more personal than something pulled off a big-box store shelf.
But what makes Lost Arts even more special is that their commitment doesn’t end at the shop door.
They give back to the community, including donating hand-knitted scarves, gloves, and hats. They also bring a little extra magic to the holidays, welcoming characters like the Easter Bunny and the Grinch for fun photo opportunities that create memories for local families.
It’s about more than selling gifts. It’s about creativity, connection, generosity, and making the community a better place to live.
And that’s what so many local businesses do. They become part of the fabric of our communities in ways we might not even recognize until we stop and look.
The Moral of These Three Stories? Look Local First.
Before assuming a local option will cost more, take longer, or be more complicated, take a moment to see what’s available right here in your own community.
You might be surprised by what you find.
You may discover better service, deeper knowledge, more personalized attention, and access to resources you didn’t even know existed. You might find a business that remembers you, takes the time to listen, helps you navigate a complicated situation, or goes the extra mile simply because that’s how they do business.
And sometimes, you’ll discover that the local option costs no more than the alternative.
Yes, you might save a few bucks somewhere else. But what are you giving up in return? The personal connection? The expertise? The peace of mind of knowing there’s someone you can call, someone who knows you, and someone who will take the time to help?
Those are the benefits you can’t always measure in dollars and cents.
So, the next time you need flowers, insurance, a special gift, or just about anything else, take a moment to LOOK LOCAL FIRST.
Shop small. Shop local. Support the businesses that support your community.
Because when you support local businesses, you’re doing more than making a purchase. You’re investing in the people, relationships, and communities that make the places we call home so special.
Right, Go Independent, Shop Small (Anywhere USA)?😉
