The economic character of Warwick

To the editor: With the holiday season now drawn to a close, I wanted to take a moment to extend my thanks, on behalf of the members of the Warwick Merchant Guild, to all of our local residents who chose to “shop local” this holiday season. By all accounts, the season saw many more local residents browsing our shops and dining in our local eateries than in years past - a trend that we hope will continue in the New Year ahead. Throughout the year, the Merchant Guild, working with the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce, Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt, the Warwick IBA and others, has raised awareness of the importance of shopping local to the economic and community character of Warwick. Numerous case studies have demonstrated that dollars spent locally are then re-invested locally, creating a spending cycle that helps to keep small communities robust. By choosing to shop locally, each of us demonstrates our commitment to shaping the look and feel of downtown Warwick for future generations. In contrast, the profits earned by national retailers are often taken out of the communities in which they operate and are siphoned off to their respective corporate headquarters. The look and feel of these national retailers lack a local feel and in most cases, their business decisions such as relocation or closure are dictated by the needs of shareholders and not the needs of the local community. As a Merchant Guild, we are very excited for the New Year ahead and we have already begun planning a number of events and promotions that will further enhance our local shopping experiences and our sense of community. Stay tuned for details in the weeks and months ahead. In the meantime, we thank you again for making the choice to shop local and for making Warwick a wonderful place to live and work. Best regards, MaryBeth Schlichting President, Warwick Merchants Guild Member, Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce