Coronado households generate $98,651 per day for businesses unconnected with our town!
Here are a few of the facts. In 2017, U.S. e-commerce sales totaled $453 billion. In other words, Americans spent over $1 billion online every single day!!! That translates into $3600 per household per year. If we do the math for Coronado, it suggests our 10,000 households generate $98,651 per day for businesses unconnected to our home town.
During the holiday shopping crush, it’s hard not to be drawn to the convenience of online shopping. But as we watch Amazon’s incredible sales growth (up 31% in 2017), we need to recognize the toll it is taking on Coronado’s businesses.
Coronado residents love our vibrant village atmosphere. Small, unique shops are as important to that ambiance as the charm of our historic homes and beautiful public spaces. Unfortunately, Coronado’s retail shops and restaurants have seen a noticeable decrease in sales in the last couple of years. Some of them are facing an unknown future due to changes in their property’s ownership. All of them are dealing with minimum wage growth and expected rent increases.
The Coronado Chamber of Commerce is asking our fellow residents to think twice before opting to send your hard earned money off the island. Consider whether a merchant in town might have just the right items for people on your shopping list. You will only find out if you wander through our lovely downtown with numerous new shops this year.
While e-commerce is certainly of huge value to the nation’s economy, let’s not let the role of the small business in our town disappear. They are part of the very fabric of our community, helping to make Coronado the exceptional town that it is.
If every Coronado household spent just $100 shopping local rather than off island this month, we would send $100,000 back into our community. Think before you click and protect our special downtown charm!
