It
can be a strange feeling to leave my familiar hometown, with the
local shopping center featuring stores such as Target and Michaels
and Walgreens, and restaurants such as Mimi's Cafe and Starbucks and
Carl's Junior....only to find the same chain stores (Target –
Michaels – Walgreens - Mimi's – Starbucks – Carl's - Target – Michaels – Walgreens - Mimi's – Starbucks – Carl's) repeated
over and over and over and over—and over again—all across the
country! 
Chain stores and restaurants are not entirely bad—I remember being glad to pop into a Staples in another state, because I was sure they'd have what I needed (and I was right), and familiarity can bring comfort. But it's not entirely good, either.
It's
nice to go into a store and a restaurant NOT knowing exactly what
you're going to see.
It's
nice when someone can open a store or restaurant or other business
and offer something original, unique to that location.
It's
something we should support!
Today
is the day to find entrepreneurs (people who open and operate their
own businesses) who are married couples running a shop, restaurant,
or other business and, if you can, support that business. Eat at a
non-chain restaurant, Find an independent bookstore. Can you find a
mom-and-pop candy store, bakery, or produce mart?
Get
out there and shop—at a mom & pop shop, that is!
Learn about entrepreneurship.
- Here are 10 steps to help kids learn the skills needed by entrepreneurs.
- Here is another article about kids and entrepreneurship. Notice the list of kid-friendly start-ups at the bottom of the article.
Did
you ever see the movie about Caine's Arcade? Now that
kid is an engineer as well as an entrepreneur!
Also
on this date:
