Buying Stationary in Omaha May End Up Legally Protecting Your Rights?!

We don't own Five Nine Shop & Project and have no other financial interest in it. Heck, Five Nine is in a different neighborhood in Omaha (we're in Old Market, they're in Benson). 

BUT: Five Nine is a fellow shop owner and is a great example of the insanely-wide-ranging benefits of shopping local. 

It is owned by Megan Hunt, who has another full-time-ish job as a Superstar State Senator in Nebraska:

Part of "The Cavanaugh Coven," Megan turned into one of the Nebraska's strongest advocates (in an elected position) for LGBTQ rights, women's rights, and the general well-being of Nebraskans. 

She is a shop owner, a single mom, and not a wealthy-and-powerful-elite. 

She works her ass off and gets by like the rest of us -- well, by "the rest of us," we mean the non-wealthy-and-powerful-elites! 

We have been in awe of her passion and work ethic. We think we work hard, but adding "holding elected" office on top of running this company seems almost insurmountable. 

But she does it. 

We were talking to Megan recently about how tough this year has been for small brick-and-mortary businesses. She said, "I want to remind people that how they spend their money can make such a difference. I just don't know how to phrase it I guess..."

That stuck with us.

And as fellow shop owners, we wanted to say what she is afraid to: like other shop owners, that her shop is her primary income. Elected office in Nebraska is low pay and no benefits. She does that because of her passion for the rights of Nebraskans. 

A shop only makes money when people purchase things from them. 

Residents of Omaha or users of the internet hold immense power in that regard!

Even small purchases make a difference. The margins in this business can be so thin that a few dozen dollars can make a difference. 

Those small purchases add income, but they make and strengthen connections that can lead to more connections and lead to serendipity, events, who knows what! 

Any purchase at a small business is great for the business. But they're great for the customer too (see our other blog post about this!). 

You may not realize it, but the power of shopping local ripples through all facets of your community! Strong local businesses make strong communities. Strong communities lead to strong relationships. Strong relationships lead to good quality of life!