The National Chain Store or the Local Store?
Michael O’Callaghan
SS 242
October 26, 2016
At one point in our lives, we are all going to have to fix, replace, or refurbish something in our
homes. In a situation like this, the first place that comes to mind to get the supplies is our local hardware
store. But then we look past the local hardware store and choose to go to a huge national chain store.
The idea of buying from a local retailer versus buying from the national chain store has been a recent
topic of debate. There are many strong points about each store, but which one yields the most benefits
for both the consumer and the environment? That very question has come to my attention, and I would
like to discuss the similarities and differences in a local store that provides an alternative to the
conventional national chain store.
Background Information
Through observation and research, I have learned how the national chain store differs from the
local store in product selection, ambiance, product information, pricing, and ownership structure.
The national chain store is motivated by several environmental principles and is dedicated to
accomplishing several milestones in the future. The national chain store promotes resource
conservation, responsible packaging, and recycling, provides countless hours of community service
every year, and supplies thousands of people across the country with jobs.
The local store was founded in 1995 by a non-profit organization to address the escalating
problems of wasteful disposal of usable building materials, most of which were buried in the local
landfill. The local store provides an alternative to dumping those materials. It gives builders the option
of obtaining materials and supplies at a fraction of the retail value. Since its inception, the local store has
turned building material waste into a practical, sustainable business venture that diverts close to
5,000,000 pounds of waste per year. The local store provides builders the opportunity to dispose of
unused materials used without dumping fees, and in return, the builders can purchase building
materials at an affordable price. The local store also gives back to the community by donating materials.
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Similarities
After gathering the background information for both stores, I saw some similarities, but I saw
even more differences. Some of the similarities are very obvious. Both stores sell building supplies for
construction contractors and home owners. Although both businesses deal with the same types of
products, the national chain store sells a much bigger volume of products.
Both stores are focused on preserving the environment. The national chain store has won
several environmental awards and is very dedicated to taking steps in becoming a “greener” company.
Just like the national chain store, the local store is very focused on cleaning up the environment and
preventing damage from happening. By accepting old and recycled building materials, the local store
eliminates thousands of pounds of building waste each year. Landfills are hazardous, and when
materials are recycled, many hazardous items are kept out of landfills. In the end, both stores are very
involved in keeping the earth clean, but it is obvious that the local store has been taking the biggest
steps and making the largest improvements.
Differences
The differences really set the two stores apart. The first big difference that I recognized is the
purpose for which the stores exist. The local store is a non-profit business. Its purpose is to take in old
building supplies to prevent them from entering waste sites and to give builders the opportunity to
purchase new and used building supplies at a very low price. The proceeds from products sold at the
local store are used to pay five employees, and the remainder goes to charity. The environment is the
first priority of the local store, but the environment is not the priority for the super store. In contrast,
the main objective of the national chain store is to sell products and make profits.
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The local store does not purchase the products that they sell; therefore, the retail prices are as
much as 75% less than the prices at the national chain store. Although the product selection at the
national chain store is vast compared to the choice of products at the local store, the local store makes
home improvements more affordable.
Along with a huge product selection, the super mart also has a huge employee and clientele
base that aids in selling and marketing. In comparison, the local store is mostly managed by volunteers
with only a few employees running the business. The super mart store has people working only for
money, while the local store has people who work for a good cause.
Which Store is Better?
There is appreciation and support for alternative stores like the local store. The community
endorses the local store because it is keeping thousands of tons of waste out of local landfills. I believe
that this is very true, but I do not know how much of an impact it is making due to the overwhelming
amount of waste that is still being dumped into landfills. I do believe that the local store is taking the
right steps to start making a difference in our world today. Every little bit helps, so if more businesses
catch on to what alternative stores do, a lot can be accomplished.
It is difficult to decide which store is better. Truly, both stores have their strong and weak
points. After giving it much thought, I realized that three factors would influence my choice: how much
time I have, the money I am willing to spend, and the uniqueness of the product I want to purchase. If I
am in a hurry and I know exactly what I need, I would go to the conventional super mart because they
would most likely have what I need. But, if I have time to shop around and look for the best deal, then I
would definitely go to the local store first and see if they have anything that meets my needs. If I am
looking for a unique product, it’s possible I could find it at both stores. I recommend shopping for
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products at the alternative store first, whenever possible, because I think this will help develop good
habits which will ultimately make a big impact on the environment.
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