quote:
Originally posted by LongtimeTulsan
According to the Tulsa Chamber 82% of all businesses in Tulsa have fewer than 10 employees and account for $3.1 billion/yr in revenue.
I don't know if the chamber even recognizes small business owners. From the looks of the board the answer is no.
Keep those listings coming!
I dont think we could even begin to scratch the surface on all the small, locally owned businesses. I wonder how that 82% stacks up with other cities. Though I would suspect its fairly close. Think of all the small stores at the malls, strip malls, the restaurants, services, builders, tile layers, painters, plumbers, electricians, artists, hair salons, lawn care, gift shops, flower shops, small oil related companies, accountants, etc. etc. etc. You name it, its not at all difficult to find a local company, service or store thats not doing it.
Perhaps its might be wiser to consider the types of goods/stores or services that are hard to find. Or compare a commonly used, large out of town chain, with its local counterpart.
Is there a locally owned alternative to Best Buy?
Instead of Firestone, use Incinas Automotive on Peoria.
Instead of Lowes or Home Depot for lighting, go to Garbes.
Instead of H&R Block, use...
What are the local counterparts of the big pervasive chains?
What I really wished we had was a grocery store that sold lots of "Made in Oklahoma" products, and labled them so that you could easily determine if that product was produced locally. I dont mind paying a little extra bit to help a local company get started until they can get large enough to have economy of scale to compete better. Whenever I buy wine, I always buy a bottle or two of an Oklahoma wine. May not be the best wine in the world lol. But the only way they can get better is if they are supported and can keep working at it.
