Most of us don't want to have to go out of town to purchase big-ticket items, not to mention necessities, but in many cases that is exactly what has happened here. Whether shoppers are seeking a new vehicle, furniture or appliance, too often they head out of town. That's bad news for all of us. Previous surveys indicated nearly 70 percent of Franklin County residents visit Lawrence at least once a month to shop, eat out or for other entertainment. An alarming number of those people visit Lawrence at least three times per month three weekends worth of purchases that could have been spent in Ottawa if the price was right or if local residents knew that the product was available right here in their hometown.
Lawrence merchants are happy to take our money and keep it there.
In fact, Lawrence has so much of our business that some leaders in their community are concerned that they are losing their identity and becoming another plastic Johnson County. Two neighboring counties, Johnson and Anderson, exceeded Franklin County's 13 percent customer base growth, with 24 percent and 15 percent respectively, during the past nine years. Franklin County can retain its historic charm and tradition and achieve healthy retail growth simultaneously by investing in our own community. Local merchants need to try telling their story to local residents, their primary market, and offer the services people desire, and then they will come.