Lesser tours local small businesses

Dec. 28, 2017 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

State Sen. Eric Lesser talked with Timothy Murphy, one of the owners of Fleet Feet Sports in Longmeadow as part of a tour of local retailers.
Reminder Publications submitted photo

EAST LONGMEADOW – State Sen. Eric Lesser said his recent tour of locally owned businesses in his district revealed “a sense of optimism.”

On Dec. 18, Lesser went to Pop’s Biscotti & Chocolates in Wilbraham, Village Food Mart in Hampden, Lupa Zoo in Ludlow, Fleet Feet Sports in Longmeadow and Arnold’s Meats in East Longmeadow.

The reason behind the tour was to get a sampling of opinion about issues local retailers face. It was organized in partnership with the East of the River Five-Town Chamber of Commerce, which represents businesses in Ludlow, Wilbraham, Hampden, East Longmeadow and Longmeadow.

In an letter to the editor Lesser wrote, “In Massachusetts, there are more than 600,000 small businesses, which together employ about half of the Commonwealth's private workforce. Across the country, small businesses (those with fewer than 500 employees) make up 99.7 percent of all U.S. employers, according to 2012 data from the Small Business Administration.

“Small businesses are responsible for 64 percent of net new private-sector jobs — so ‘shopping small’ may even support the job you want to apply for one day.

“State government can play a big role in supporting these businesses and helping them stay competitive in an increasingly globalized marketplace. There are resources we can provide to make state rules and guidelines easier to navigate. Many regulations turn into roadblocks, and complicated licensing and permitting requirements hinder growth when they should be enhancing competition.

“State government can and should be a partner.”

Lesser said the businesses he visited were very customer focused and deliver “experiential shopping.”

He noted there is “a hunger for a personal shopping experience,” despite the appeal of on-line shopping.

He said that, for instance, at Fleet Feet the business doesn’t just sell running shoes, but organizes running clubs and exercise programs to help built and support the running community.

Pop’s Biscotti & Chocolates produces personalized gift baskets with the products they produce themselves, while Village Food Mart “is very responsive to customers’ needs,” Lesser said.

The senator said he thinks for local businesses to compete against Internet –based merchants they must have “locally oriented unique product.”

The owners of the businesses he visited did voice some concerns with the cost of health insurance among the most important. Lesser said the businesses have seen a hike in rates as much as 15 percent and to continue offering health insurance is “a tremendous burden.”

The smaller businesses are relying more on word-of-mouth to bring in customers as opposed to having an actual marketing budget, Lesser said.

Local merchants do feel the challenge from the pressure from greater global competition, but Lesser added, “There is a sense of optimism about our region.”

The senator plans to make the tour of local businesses an annual event.

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