In Search of a City: Searching for Consumer Loyalty
I grew up in Galion, OH, which then had a population of 13,000, in the 1950s and 1960s. Downtown Galion offered everything a person needed in life. It had a J.C. Penney, a Sears, two “dime” stores, independent hardware stores, a couple of IGAs, a bowling alley, a movie theatre, and a whole host of other independent retail stores, all located within walking distance of most residents.
The owners of the local stores ran the local United Way campaigns and supported Little League baseball teams and other community institutions. Money spent on retail goods stayed in the community. Customers rewarded their local stores with loyalty.
Consumer ethics seemed to disappear in the rush to shopping malls and big box stores. People now chase prices or labels to the farthest corners of the region, no matter what their impact on the environment, wages, and their own communities.
Some consumer ethics remain. The gay community, for example, shows remarkable loyalty to gay-owned businesses. If retail businesses are to emerge in downtown Columbus, they could use some of that loyalty.
