Buy Local, Not Loco

I'm a firm believer in relationship buying. There are two huge home improvement chains less than two miles form my house. There is also a tiny hardware store that's been family-owned for decades. The building is decorated with family photos, old signs (the real ones, not the faux ones), and notes from customers. Everything in this building costs a little more than the chain store, but the people know their stuff, and they have things that you just can't find in the big boxes. Plus, they sponsor