Although it is true that Dr John Wilson and Dr Euan McGinty are "from away", they bring with them a global perspective and a broad reaching level of experience and importantly a deep rooted understanding of why local is so important.
One of the main reasons that using local businesses is vital for any community can be seen from cold hard statistics. Recent studies have demonstrated that generates 3.5 times more wealth for the local economy compared to chain owned business. What does this mean beyond the statistics? That the money spent within the community stays within the community - it is used in other local businesses, it is used to support local community projects and activities, it creates jobs and opportunities within the community and it enables the community to grow and flourish. With chain owned business a good proportion of the same money is syphoned off to support the very existence of the chain itself, it's corporate needs and offices, the corporate staff and perhaps on activities such as national advertising, etc.
What may be thinly hidden from the general public, however, is where the ownership of an office lies. At times offices can be owned by national or multi-national chains.
This is one of the reasons that Ocean Optometry takes its responsibility as a local business seriously, we try to work with other local businesses first and foremost. We recognise that this isn't always possible and we also need to consider where the ethos of local is. So we very much look at our local responsibility on a global scale. Having a desire to bring the best products to the local community we have ensured that we look at the companies we work with and, where possible, will choose a company with a local ethos similar to our own. We like to work with independent companies who share the same ideals and principles as ourself.
We encourage you to share our love of local, consider where you make your purchase and take on a local outlook, with a global twist (funny accents optional).
A great source for all things local in Halifax is I love local Halifax:
Keep up to date with their website and follow them on twitter, you'll be amazed as to how busy the local scene is.
More info on local V's chains can be found here:
