What does it mean to be locally owned and operated? What is the difference to the public and local economy? Is it a benefit to the consumer? When a large box store moves into an area what does it do to the local businesses? Where does the profits to the big national stores or operations go? These questions and others are evaluated by the local communities and experts all the time. However, you the consumer what is your thoughts on this?
Many of the local businesses are your neighbors or who employ your neighbors or friends. These local businesses support the local economy in so many ways. It seems that the trend in business is buying up smaller companies and managing all of them as one large multifaceted corporation. In some situations multiple companies in the same market are owned by one company, however they retain the former name. With this type of market approach, it can affect the consumers experience. “Buyer Beware” is the phrase that we should remember and consider. But how do we know which companies have taken this course of action? Here is a list of local companies that have been purchased by large ‘venture capitalists’ corporations who look to expand their reach into a local market and in turn increase their bottom line. Increasing the bottom line isn’t a bad thing at all, however when taking an unfair advantage of the markets and consumer it goes back to the phrase – “Buyer Beware”. We’ll let you decide!
Here are a few examples of what is happening in Utah.
Knox Lane: https://www.knoxlane.com/
- Any Hour (Utah)
- Black Diamond Experts (Utah)
- Bumble Breeze Plumbing Heating & Air
- Penguin Air (Phoenix)
- AC by J (Scottsdale)
- Advance Home Services (Southeast Idaho)
Friendly Group: https://friendlygroup.com/
- Friendly Home Service
- Just Right Heating & Cooling
- Western Heating, Air, Plumbing
- Main Street Heating & Cooling, Plumbing
APEX Service Partners: https://apexservicepartners.com/ – alpineinvestors.com
- Whipple
Bestige: https://bestigeholdings.com/
- Craigs Services
- Comfort Solutions
- Comfort Construction Services
- My Buddy the Plumber
- Same Day
- Walker Plumbing
- Superior Water & Air
- ICS – Intermountain Comfort Supply
- Lee’s Heating – Air Conditioning – Duct Cleaning – Water Treatment
- Comfort Construction (HVAC)
- Utah Engineering (HVAC, Plumbing) (Commercial)
- Beehive Plumbing
TurnPoint: https://www.turnpointservices.com/
- Scott Hale Plumbing & Heating
American Residential Services (Charles Bank): https://www.ars.com/
- YES! (Formally ESCO and Rescue Rooter)