09/01/2026
I believe strongly in Shop Local. Shop Small. Support Guthrie.
But I also believe those words have to mean something.
There are absolutely times when we need to leave Guthrie to purchase something. If a product or service simply isn’t available here, that’s understandable. Nobody expects you to buy something locally that you simply can’t get locally.
But what about when you CAN get it here?
When the same product or service is available from a business right here in Guthrie—sometimes from several local businesses—but we choose to drive to another city or another county to purchase it, we need to understand what we’re really choosing.
The sales tax goes to another community. The business you’re supporting employs people in another community. Those dollars help their schools, their streets, their services, their events and their local economy.
Meanwhile, we turn around and ask Guthrie businesses to sponsor the ball team, donate to the fundraiser, buy an ad in the program, support the nonprofit, give to the benefit, contribute to the event and help when someone in our community is hurting.
And thankfully, our local businesses step up again and again.
That’s why “Shop Local” can’t just be something we say when we’re asking local businesses for support. It has to be something we practice when it’s our turn to support them.
This isn’t about never leaving Guthrie to shop. It’s not about guilt or criticizing someone for buying something our community doesn’t offer.
It’s simply about giving Guthrie businesses a chance when they offer the same thing you’re already planning to buy somewhere else.
Let’s not just wear “Support Local” as a badge.
Let’s live it. ❤️
