I’ll never forget the smell of walking into the local Schwinn dealership as a kid, looking at rows of bikes and envisioning myself on some grand adventure searching for lost treasure or thwarting some villain who was in hot pursuit. Much like Ralphie in the movie A Christmas Story, with his Red Rider B.B. gun, I’d get ecstatic at touching and seeing something at a store, hoping and wishing that Mom and Dad would remember when my birthday or Christmas time came around.

As I’ve grown older, these little nuances I took for granted have evolved into a completely different dynamic. In suburbs everywhere, small businesses have been devoured and lost to big-brand retailers whose connection with the very community they cater to has been lost or in some cases, never existed at all. Many of us, including myself at times, have become disconnected from local businesses who open and close their doors every day, awaiting customers with a friendly face and helping to guide our purchase decisions based on their own experiences. The convenience of technology and apps that allow us to search for a product and swipe the screen and have it delivered to our front door, often with free delivery, has profoundly impacted how we interact within our own communities.

 

That’s not to say technology is the devil, as Bobby Boucher’s mother would probably suggest if you’ve seen the movie The Waterboy. Technology can be extremely useful and I’m a huge proponent of technology and online retailers. What I am saying is that it’s sometimes easy to get lost in the instant gratification that comes with the swipe of a button, lose our connection with local people and businesses who value and rely on our patronage, and who are negatively impacted when we choose to order that set of LED lights from Amazon rather than establish and develop that relationship with a local store owner, sometimes just to save a few bucks.

Admittedly, OutdoorX4 Magazine has featured, at times, products that may not be found at a local retailer. The vast majority of the products and companies we have featured, and have developed relationships with beyond business but also on a personal level, are offered by local and online retailers with whom we’ve developed wonderful relationships over the years. Companies like OK4WD, AT Overland, 23ZERO, and more. These are companies that have a brick and mortar store and are active participants in their communities. Patronize them and others locally, and solicit their input and feedback. They want to help and, naturally, want your business. By giving them the opportunity to serve you, you’ll come to value, hopefully once again, the experience of the sights and smells at that local shop the way you once did. And who knows, saving that swipe on Amazon and instead walking into that local mom and pop shop can rekindle a sense of grand adventure, like the memories I have of the local Schwinn shop as a kid, to get away from your device and reconnect with the world around you.

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