This week's online discussion focuses on COMMUNITY CAPITAL.

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Story by Annie Card, Annie Card Creative Services; Photo by Kimberly Peck

Much has happened in the world of books since the early 1970’s when Willard Williams, with the support of several family members, opened the Toadstool Bookshop on Main Street in Peterborough.

It was 1972, a year after Borders opened its first book store in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Borders and The Toadstool both sold books. Both were surrounded by communities of book lovers. The similarities end there.

In 2008 Borders was drowning in $350 million of debt. The bookstore giant began closing stores, and in 2011 Borders closed the last of its 659 stores, dismissing nearly 20,000 workers in total.

By contrast, Willard who was joined in the business by Holly when they married in 1974, never considered growing The Toadstool into a mega chain. He knew the Toadstool’s success was based on the quality of the shopping experience: the right selection of books, welcoming atmosphere, great service, and being connected to the community.

Willard opened the second Toadstool in the newly renovated Colony Mill, in Keene in 1983. “I believed in what the mill could be and in the importance of saving it,” Willard said. {Editor's Note: In 2016, Keene's Toadstool moved to 12 Emerald Street.}

In 1989 he opened another store in Milford, marking the Toad’s third and final bookshop. The Toadstool Bookshops have now served their local communities for a combined 101 years, and are still going strong with a team of 30 dedicated employees.

The game changers that marked the end for many other booksellers— Amazon, the recession, and the e-book revolution were no match for The Toadstool’s business philosophy of knowing your customer and taking care of them.

Willard is proud to be a part of Monadnock Buy Local, bringing businesses of all kinds together. He sees the positive effect it’s had in the region. “I’m excited for more businesses to join and feel the thrill of this movement. Together, we can do so much more.”

This week's online discussion focuses on COOPERATIVES & COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP.

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This week's online discussion focuses on GREEN MANUFACTURING.

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This week's online discussion focuses on ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

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Help us brainstorm a list of businesses, organizations and initiatives that support entrepreneurship in our Monadnock Local Living Economy. Save

Story by Annie Card, Annie Card Creative Services; Photo by Kimberly Peck

Edmunds Hardware Store on Main Street in Antrim is a classic, with well-worn wooden floors, and aisles filled floor to ceiling with new items, and with everything you need to repair what you already have.

I met with Rick Edmunds in the store’s basement, beside the workbench where he’d recently fixed a customer’s faucet. “If it’s worth fixing, then that’s what we’ll do or show you how to do,” said Rick.

“People remember when you help them out. We have always operated on the principle of solving people’s problems.”

Rick’s been working at Edmunds for more than 30 years, starting at 10 years old. He used to sweep the floors, and help move the big stuff outdoors. As a boy, he’d go to the store before it opened, and help carry out the merchandise that clogged the aisles.

Depending on the season, Rick moved snow shovels, rakes and lawn mowers; plus ladders, trash barrels, kiddie pools, grills, lawn furniture, drying racks. After arranging the last item out by the walk, Rick picked up his backpack and walked to school.

Today Rick manages the family business, following in his father’s footsteps, and his father’s father before him. Hattie and Clarence Edmunds opened their first store in Henniker in 1942, and in 1962 opened a second location in Antrim. Rick’s grandmother, Hattie, is 95 and still works daily in the Henniker store. Clarence died in 2004. Rick’s parents, Lorraine and Dick also still work in the family business.

Edmunds is bigger and stronger than ever for a few reasons. First, the family has always reinvested in the business: buying land and building a new store at routes 114 and 202 in Henniker when they outgrew the original downtown location; and always keeping up with the latest products and technology, like computer paint matching systems.

Second, they listen to their customers and put them first. No matter how big the competition is, they will never beat Edmunds’s customer service. Thirdly, the big box stores will never beat Edmunds’s staff. “We’ve always had the best employees. They’re knowledgeable and resourceful, and they like what they do.” One Henniker employee just retired after 40 years.

After earning a degree in business from UNH, and working outside the family business for two and a half years, Rick decided it was time to return to the fold.

Before taking the baton from his father, Rick had one thing he wanted to do. He spent five and a half months hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Once he got off the trail, he headed back to Antrim and took over management of the family business.

Rick lives in Antrim with his wife and their two sons, all of who work at Edmunds, carrying on their family tradition of taking care of their customers.

“It’s all about treating people right, great service. It’s what drew me to Monadnock Buy Local. I believe in what they do. I learned about Plaid Friday, and thought how much sense that makes. We appreciate our customers, and likewise we also think local.  I know it matters, to support other small businesses. It helps all of us.”

This week's online discussion focuses on the ARTS & CULTURE.

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Help us brainstorm a list of businesses, organizations and initiatives that support the arts and culture in our Monadnock Local Living Economy.

This week's online discussion focuses on SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.

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Help us brainstorm a list of businesses, organizations and initiatives that support local food and farming efforts in our Monadnock Local Living Economy.

Photo Credit: Mari Brunner, Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation

This week's online discussion focuses on SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION.

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Help us brainstorm a list of businesses, organizations and initiatives that support Sustainable Transportation efforts in our Monadnock Local Living Economy.

Looking for a night out, a perfect gift or some other product or service? Please, think local first!

Think local first and keep the green in our community!

This means, make locally owned businesses your first choice.  Check to see if they carry the product or service you're looking for.

Search our Online Buy Local Directory

If they don't carry what you're looking for, ask if they can add or order what you want. The turnaround is sometimes impressive!

And if there's a price difference, consider the value that independents bring to our community: Top Reasons to Buy Local, Eat Local, Go Local