And I don’t mean “bull shit.”
This last holiday, my family decided to forgo our typical gift giving Christmas traditions and instead do a book gift exchange and year long book club. Each person was to pick a book and buy six copies, one for everyone in the family: dad, mom, sister, brother, my partner, and me.
We run the gamut of readers. Some of us read everything and often, some of us read occasionally but stay genre-specific, and some of us haven’t read a book since school. Picking a book that would engage everyone was tricky, but were all glad to accept the challenge!
Petoskey, Michigan is in my top five favorite places. Ever.
Ohio born and raised, I moved to northern Michigan and lived there for about four years. This past summer, I moved back to Cleveland.
I have yet to find a new local bookstore, so I still use McLean & Eakin. Picture a postcard worthy storefront, a two story shop on Lake St downtown, next to the coffee shop. That’s my bookstore.
Some of the best books I have ever read were bought at there, either a staff pick recommendation, a gem found in the local author section, or a random pick from one of the few area book club lists on display.
A couple of my favorite records were picked out of their vinyl bins when I first got a record player and wanted to make sure I started off with an “eclectic” collection.
They even used to special order my notebooks, as I am quite particular about what kind, and I go through them lightning fast. My favorite pen is from there!
On the hunt for the perfect book for our gift exchange, I got on McLean & Eakin’s website and read through every single one of their staff favorites. I knew exactly what book I would pick as soon as I found it!
I immediately purchased my quantity of six online. The next day, I got an email from Matt, the owner, confirming my order and letting me know they’d be shipped soon. The next week, I got the box of books, each individually wrapped in Christmas paper with a golden bow, each with its own familiar McLean & Eakin bookmark, and a handwritten note from Matt thanking me for my order.
Sure, Amazon was selling them for $5 less per book, and they could have been delivered in two two days. But I never would have found the perfect book without the recommendation. Amazon doesn’t gift wrap, offer bookmarks, or send notes from Bezos.
McLean & Eakin provides more than just gift wrapping, bookmarks, and handwritten notes. They donate profits to worthy causes, box up books for the area Women’s Resource Center, support the local public radio station…
They are community.
Very similar stories surround my experiences at my local bike shops, like Latitude 45 in Petoskey and now Joy Machine in Cleveland.
My first month after moving to Cleveland, I stopped into Joy Machine and bought some clipless commuter shoes, a cycling cap (which the guy excitedly told me was made by someone local), and a rear rack. They fit me in that busy summer day and suggested I grab a beer across the street, and they’d have my bike ready with the rack installed when I got back. I was able to check out a new local beer spot (local BS) and had my gear all ready for that coming week’s commute.
That next week, I was riding to work and noticed a sign for a traffic calming study taking place in my neighborhood. When I got online to learn more about it, I noticed comments and info sharing from Alex, owner of the bike shop.
Local bike shops offer opportunities that can’t be found elsewhere… like meeting new people, attending group rides, getting trail recommendations, touching and feeling gear and bikes, and garnering support for local community issues.
They too are community.
When it comes to a BS, whether it’s a bookstore, bike shop, beer spot, or anything else, for that matter (it doesn’t even need to start with a B or an S), there are some pretty easy things to do that help keep it local:
- Purchase from them.
- Attend events they host.
- Give them a shout out! Tag them in your social media posts when you’re digging a book…or a bike!
- Put their sticker on your water bottle.
- Share a review online. Give them 5 stars and write a comment anywhere they can receive a review, especially Facebook and Google.
**Keep in mind that local BS turns to bullshit when you try something on to find your size and/or price check at your local store just to go home and buy it online.