FeaturedBusiness
The Summit dispels the online buying myth
In the world of purchasing, one popular misconception is that products and services sold online are always less expensive than those procured from brick-and-mortar businesses.
“We thought that too,” admitted Heather Forsht of The Summit Tennis & Athletic Club in Altoona. So Forsht began to explore the costs of items routinely purchased by The Summit and was amazed at what she found.
“My price comparison showed that most of what we bought online was the same price or higher than what we could get locally,” she pointed out. “That was great to know because we really make a concerted effort to consider local vendors first. It’s been our philosophy all along and we’re even more committed to it now.”
Convenience, according to Focht, helped to seal-the-deal.
“It’s wonderful knowing that if I need something for our business, I can get it here today and without shipping fees,” she noted. “Because we have a large membership base, there’s a good possibility that we’ll be purchasing more than a few things from members – people we know and already have a relationship with. When you buy online, unless it’s from a local business that sells online, you seldom know the character or reputation of the person filling your order. When something goes wrong, there’s just not that same sense of loyalty to get the matter resolved.”
The Summit has been locally owned and operated for the past nineteen years.
“Most of our members are people we know and see almost every day,” Forsht acknowledged. “Our success pretty much mirrors our community and we do our best to be good local stewards. We contribute to fundraising events for organizations like the Saint Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and the Humane Society. We also try to assist efforts that benefit children.”
Forsht is extremely impressed with The Chamber’s Buy Here. Live Here. program.
“I think it’s a wonderful program,” she admitted. “It raises awareness of the importance of supporting locally-owned businesses and the local economy. We’re hopeful that people will see the many advantages associated with it and do whatever they can to keep it going.”