Shop Local
Shop Local
Posted on February 28, 2025
Let's talk about shopping local.
How do you define local? It's pretty simple when we're talking about buying produce from a stand in front of the farm where it's grown, but almost everything beyond that gets a little murky.
A local maker offering handmade trinkets seems to be a smart choice. But how do they source their base materials? Does it have anything to do with that a smile logo?
A cute, little independent clothing store might seem like a safe bet, but are their outfits all Canadian-made? And further consideration should go to the ownership of the building/or plaza where they are located. This might not be fully in control of the store owner but there should be some consideration toward who their rent payments support.
And, is it really fair to penalize your neighbour because they chose to bring an American franchise to our Canadian market?
The only clarity is that it's increasingly difficult to make a clear choice that supports your personal priorities. As a consumer, your purchasing power is still the best way to make your voice heard.
As a dealership, we are part of the even murkier world of automotive retail. Infiniti does not have any final assembly plants in Canada. Cadillac has none. Lexus has 2 plants in Ontario. Does this mean it's better to support Lexus over Cadillac - or over us since we're the one spreading awareness?😉
Let's go back to that independent clothing store as an example before we return to the automotive swamp. The owner would presumably be local. How many employees do they support? Do they support the local community in return - as consumers or donors or sponsors or more? By supporting them, are your consumer dollars helping the community as a whole? Or, are you paying a premium for their product (in comparison to the price at a larger discount franchise) and that support isn't fully transferred into our community? And lastly, does the larger discount franchise employ anyone locally, offer team sponsorships or provide charitable contributions in some other way? Especially in the case where you might be paying a slight premium to support a local independent, you want to ensure your support is fully appreciated - and paid forward.
Now, back to the automotive swamp. Infiniti's global headquarters are in Japan as are Lexus'. Audi is located in Germany and Cadillac's global headquarters are in the USA. Given the current political situation, wouldn't this be an argument in our favour?😊
As a point of clarity, there are NO automotive brands with global headquarters in Canada. See - CLEAR AS MUD!
So why are we sharing this information? To stress you out or make you feel like your purchasing power doesn't count? Absolutely not!
We want everyone to make a well-researched choice and be sure that when they are making a purchase to make a point, they are making the right point.
Our dealership is part of the Revenberg Automotive Family of Dealerships with a legacy in Windsor & Essex County dating back to the 80's (late 1900's for those younger generations that refer to it as such). The family itself has been part of the community even longer and continues its ties to our area with family members working in various roles throughout the 4 stores.
Our group employs over 300 people with career offerings ranging from part-time students and entry-level full-time through to Accounting Professionals and Skilled Trades (including our support of the Ontario Apprenticeship Program) - in addition to the Sales and Service Advisors with corresponding Management with whom you are most familiar. These employees (along with Gus himself) live and invest in the long-term success of Windsor & Essex County.
There was a time when most dealerships were family-run and community oriented. That has changed over the past decade. Many 'local' dealerships are owned by huge corporations now. AutoCanada is one example with 3 locations in Essex County. They own a total of 83 dealerships across Canada and the US and are publicly traded on the TSX. Each of their dealerships do employ people locally but is there any commitment to the success of that dealership in OUR community? With a board of directors (and stockholders) to answer to, their priorities have to be to the bottom line. Even if AutoCanada has a community support mandate for each dealership, it might be restrictive given that they would want to ensure equal distribution throughout all 83 locations.
Many dealerships no longer carry the identity of the small, family-run business that characterized the history of the industry. But we do - we have been and will be for years to come. Gus may have officially retired, but there are 3 generations of Revenbergs working throughout our 4 stores. His legacy - a commitment to customer service above all - will continue for years to come.
https://www.infinitiofwindsor.com/about/
One final note about shopping local as it relates to the complicated world of automotive manufacturing. There are Canadian-Made vehicles with American and Mexican parts. There are Mexican parts produced by Canadian molds. There are American production molds engineered in Canada, shipped back to the US to produce parts for vehicles assembled in Mexico.
CLEAR AS MUD!
Vote with your consumer power. Absolutely! Just be sure when you vote - when you make a choice or refuse to entertain a certain product or provider - that your preference is truly in line with your priorities.
And most importantly, make a choice that works for you and your family!