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Health & Fitness

Support Local Retailers during the 1st Annual Discount Days

People like doing business with people. Too often these days, though, we lack that personal touch. Automated responses, email, and corporations, while streamlining business processes, have reduced our personal interaction substantially.

When you do business with a big box store, the personal touch is mostly non-existent. The employee at the big box, nationally owned athletic shoe store is not going to remember nor care that you tend to pronate,  or that you are training for your first marathon, much less what your name is.  The store clerk at a large department store is not going to call you when a piece by your favorite designer arrives.

But when you patronize your local independent business, you will get that extra personal touch. We here at The Runner's Soul take pride in treating all of our customers like family and going that extra mile for you. 

Consumers often cite higher prices when asked why they don't support local businesses more. And while large corporations can avail themselves of volume discounts and stronger purchasing power, the savings to you, the consumer, results in a higher cost in the long term.

Because for every $100 you spend in a locally owned, independently owned store, $68 is returned right back into our community thru taxes, payroll, and other expenditures, as compared to only $43 when it's spent in a national chain retailer. Buy online, and exactly zero dollars are returned to our community.

Spending your dollars locally means that our community has more sales tax available to fund local schools. It means that the local businesses can hire more employees, who can then spend their own money shopping locally, thus continuing the cycle. It means that local business can thrive, Main Street downtowns are vibrant destinations, and local commercial real estate is attractively valued.

Local businesses often can carry merchandise that can't be found at a national chain. They can take a chance on carrying a small quantity of a unique piece of clothing, for example. You'll also find handcrafted products from local artists and artisans as well, thus continuing the chain of supporting the local economy.

The Runner's Soul, for example, offers running shoes that you will not find at big box stores, like the highly acclaimed Newton Running shoe.

This weekend, several Elmhurst retailers are hosting the first Annual Discount Days, beginning this Thursday, August 1st thru Saturday, August 3rd. Participating stores will be offering exciting deals and specials, and there will be live music by Elmhurst's very own School of Rock.  It's not just a sale - it's a fun event!

We'll be having a fun Bean bag toss for store discounts. It's great way to save money on your back to school purchases or for new running gear.

Please join us and support your local independent businesses this weekend and always - after all, we truly are the people in your neighborhood!

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