The Importance of Local Businesses

Giant, global companies seem to dominate the market these days. Huge companies sucking up all of the industry, leaving many of us here at home jobless while these corporations are taking advantage of those living in 3rd-world countries. As a consumer, how do you know that the products that you're buying were created ethically? Who had a hand in it's creation? Where are the materials from? Is the money you're spending on it flowing back into the American economy? Not many of us think about these things when we're in the middle of a purchase - or the beginning and end, for that matter. But these are VERY important questions that every single American should keep in mind...

As of recent, there has been buzz on the movement of 'Going Local'. What does this mean? Why should we? Why is it important?

Lorenzo DiSiena, 69, picks some lettuce in the Kentucky Garden in Ohio City in Cleveland. Photo: Lisa DeJong / The Plain Dealer

'Going Local' means supporting local businesses, whether they are store or markets, local artisans, specialty shops, etc. 'Going Local' also means making sure the materials and products you buy are from the 'homeland', or NOT outsourced (think made in American, NOT made in China).

Superstores, chains and corporations displace just as many jobs as they 'claim' to create. They weed out smaller business making is very difficult for them to compete, causing them to go out of business. "The disappearance of local businesses leaves a social and economic void". Only you as a consumer can fill this void by buying local.

'Going Local' isn't just important on an economic level; local businesses "define our sense of place, but we often forget their survival depends on our patronage". This creates a sense of community that Walmart just CANNOT offer.

Supporting local business changes our thought-process as consumers: while prices may be slightly higher than at Walmart, you're insuring that your community is prosperous, you're keeping economic flow in the country, and you're implementing social change one purchase at a time. There's more of a personal connection to the product, which has a value that is priceless.

At Apoc, we bring you locally hand-crafted products, with reclaimed materials sourced from expired houses right here in Cleveland. By supporting your community, a little piece of it gets to go home with you.

Next time you're going to make a purchase, whether its groceries, jewelry or furniture, consider going local.

- TB

text sources from "Why Local Matters" by Jeff Milchen. www.homegrownelpaso.com

And we're back!

Hello readers and Apoc lovers,

Have you ever wondered WHY reclaimed wood is so important? There are many out there who still aren't aware of the importance this rare, raw material serves to Cleveland. Actually, reclaimed wood is an untapped, invaluable source. Here at Apoc, we understand the value of reclaimed wood, and bring it to you locally with clean, timeless design.

Around the globe, deforestation is destroying a mind-boggling amount of habitats for millions of animals forcing them into endangerment and extinction. It's also ruining the quality of our environment on a global scale (I'm sure everyone reading has heard of global warming...). Almost a quarter of the trees cut down from deforestation are converted to lumber.

deforestation's effect on habitats in Indonesia.

At Apoc, we're doing our part to minimize the effects of logging on the global environment. By upcycling reclaimed wood from expired houses around the city of Cleveland, we eliminate the need for new wood, and new trees to be cut down. By using local reclaimed wood, we also eliminate the need for outsourced materials.

The deconstruction and reclaiming process brings us closer to our Cleveland roots. We appreciate the history behind every piece of wood that enters our design shop. Reclaimed wood has a character that no other wood does. Every piece of wood is unique, and every piece that is pulled out of an old home is a gem. With every piece of furniture made, the customer gets a glimpse at the history of the unique wood from which it was constructed.

Stone carvers pose on a pylon of the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge, later renamed the Hope Memorial Bridge, ca. 1931.
Photo courtesy of Case Western Reserve Archives.

So why local? Here at Apoc, we love our city. Cleveland is a place budding with new opportunities, with artists, innovators, and collaborators bringing new growth to an old city. We believe Cleveland is ready to move forward and think forward, and we're ready to march down that path.

Next time you're considering purchasing a new coffee table, or you're looking for some new dining chairs: Go reclaimed, go local. It's just one way you can do your part to save the environment and support local Cleveland businesses.

- TB