How to make money as an LHS owner

[nachoman]

I agree that I should make an effort to buy things that I need locally.

However, I will not subscribe to the "Save the Local Hobby Shop" and make pity purchases of stuff that I don't want or need. I hate to be forced to NEVER leave the store empty handed, no matter what.

When I was living in Utah, there was some public backlash against a new wal-mart coming into town. They wanted a prime piece of real estate at a major crossroads. Wal mart would pay the store that was at that location to relocate across the road. People were afraid the wal-mart would drive away local businesses. Here are the facts:

1) There already was another wal-mart in town
2) There werent very many local businesses that sold the same things. The town was almost all big box stores and chain restaurants already
3) People claimed the store that would be forced to relocate was a local store, but in fact it was also a chain (A kroger using a regional name)
4) the store that the wal mart would be replacing was not open sundays

Friends of mine tried to get me to protest the new wal mart. I replied, "why? There are barely any local businesses in town anyway, and the ones that are aren't open when I need to shop." Don't get me wrong - I loathe wal mart. But I didn't see how the new store would ruin what wasn't already ruined.

I don't see why internet stores have to ruin LHS businesses. Personally, i would much rather shop local even if it is a chain as to not give UPS and FedEX (my sworn enemies) my business.