Local Home Improvement Purchases Give Back to Our Hometown for the Holidays

Study shows shopping at local home improvement stores

makes significant economic impact on community

 

Pawtucket, 11/16/2015  — You’ve made your holiday shopping list and you’ve checked it twice. But where you shop this holiday season can be just as important as what you buy. Purchasing gifts from local home improvement stores, such as Tessier’s Paint and Hardware, this holiday season will make an important economic impact on our hometown.

Nearly twice as much money spent at a locally owned home improvement store will stay in our community compared to dollars spent at a big-box store. Buying gifts at local home improvement stores, such as Tessier’s Paint and Hardware, will not only make you the most popular and thoughtful gift giver, but will also allow you to keep money in the local community by simply being a conscious consumer.

A recent study sponsored by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and Independent We Stand and conducted by Civic Economics shows that a dollar spent at a local home improvement business generates 97 percent more local economic activity than a dollar spent at a big-box store. This statistic means that your shopping decisions this holiday season can put twice as much money toward our community schools, local charities, sports teams and more.

Planning to purchase power equipment for someone on your gift list? Buying from an independent dealer results in a 71-percent increase in local economic activity compared to purchasing similar equipment from major chain stores, according to the study. Other gifts to consider purchasing from Tessier’s Paint and Hardware include hand tools, Stanley Fat Max 25 ft Tape Measure for $ 14.95 and the Nebo Slyde Flashlight for $25.00.

For every $500 spent on gifts at local home improvement stores this holiday season, $115 will stay in our community. Spend the same amount at a big box and our community loses nearly half of that money.

The potential national impact of shopping at local home improvement stores is even bigger. Together, the two largest national home center chains – Lowe’s and Home Depot – sold $114 billion in goods in 2013. If only 10 percent of that business had gone to independent stores throughout the country, hometowns, like Pawtucket, across the U.S. would have collectively seen a $1.3 billion increase in economic activity.

Choose to be part of something bigger this holiday season by shopping at local home improvement stores. Keep your money where your house is and choose our hometown for the holidays.

For more information about the study, visit www.hardwareretailing.com/home-sweet-home/.

About the North American Retail Hardware Association:

The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) is a nonprofit trade association with a mission to help independent hardware stores, home centers and lumberyards in the U.S. and Canada become better and more profitable retailers. NRHA fulfills its mission by providing information, training programs, educational resources and networking opportunities to thousands of retailers. Visit www.NRHA.org for more information.

About Independent We Stand:

Independent We Stand is an organization that helps business owners across the country inform their communities about the importance of buying local products and how these efforts bolster their local economies. Independent We Stand supports all local and national causes committed to boosting local economic development projects. Visit www.IndependentWeStand.org for more information.

About Civic Economics:

Civic Economics is a research firm that studies the economics of local retail and service. The company provides a data-driven approach to business and community initiatives for clients across North America. Visit http://www.civiceconomics.com for more information.

About Tessier’s Hardware:

Emile Tessier was born in Canada in 1884 and married Anna Desroches in 1909.

Emile Tessier

Anna Tessier

Together, they immigrated to the United States from Canada in 1914 at the age of 30, speaking very little English and armed with only a fifth-grade education. Shortly thereafter, Anna was a savvy entrepreneur and Emile was a tin smith by trade, they opened Anna Tessier’s Dry Goods in Central Falls, RI.

Anna Tessier’s Dry Goods

Tollgate House, Lincoln RI

Through hard work and perseverance, they decided to establish a hardware store in 1917 in Pawtucket, RI, Tessier’s General Store.

Almost one hundred years later, Tessier’s Paint & Hardware still stands in the same building after a few additions and updates over the years, employing about 10 people.  If you look closely at the ceiling and walls, the original tin ceiling and walls are a reminder of the past and an amazing feat hand crafted by Emile’s hands himself.

Hand crafted tin ceiling by Emile

2nd Generation Edouard Tessier Behind the counter

The remarkable growth and transitions over time by Tessier’s Paint & Hardware can be attributed to the company treating its customers as friends and always making them number one. We believe that the business was founded on the principle of buying economically and we give our customers what they want, high-grade hardware at a price everyone can afford.

New sign featuring Edouard with sign artist/brother in law Austin

Tessier’s Paint & Hardware never lost track of where it started, and today it still remains “all in the family” with 3 family members currently employed, including the fourth generation.