If a Mom and Pop store can't differentiate, why would it be good for them to stay in business?
The ones that provide something extra will raise their prices and be more expensive, and people will go when they're willing to pay the difference; look at the independent book shops in London as an example.
It's a romantic idea and all, but beyond that I don't think "local vendors are de facto a good thing" is a reasonable starting point.
>Local vendors keep the money circulating around the local community in the form of wages, rent, and profits
But that's all it is; a different allocation of wealth. If you happen to live in that community, great.
The question becomes: why should I care about your local community as opposed to some other local community, or even the global community, that stands to benefit from getting more for less?
The ones that provide something extra will raise their prices and be more expensive, and people will go when they're willing to pay the difference; look at the independent book shops in London as an example.
It's a romantic idea and all, but beyond that I don't think "local vendors are de facto a good thing" is a reasonable starting point.