If it comes from outside, is it better?

Far too often, there’s a belief that if something comes from outside, it must be better. But let’s be real, that’s not always the case.

Is Dairy Queen or Breyers really better than Armstrong’s Home Made Ice Cream? Is Wonder Bread better than a warm loaf of Thomas Bakery Butter Bread fresh out the oven? If you know, you know.

Recently, I was shopping for lumber and kept hearing, “Go to Puerto Rico, it’s cheaper.” So we did our research. My wife called one of the most highly recommended vendors in San Juan and I compared their prices to a local lumber yard. In some cases, the local vendor was actually cheaper. And even when it wasn’t, the added cost of shipping would’ve wiped out any savings.

Sure, some local vendors may be more expensive and excessive, but we shouldn’t make blanket assumptions. Sometimes, we end up spending more time and money chasing a “deal” that doesn’t exist.

Here’s another example of why outside is not always better. An agency selected a national vendor, finalsite.com, to develop their new website. While the design looks nice at a glance, there are two major problems:

1. Search indexing was ignored. Web searches take users to the new site, but most of the links don’t work. Pro tip: if you’re updating an active website, make sure existing indexed and bookmarked pages are properly redirected.

2. Critical content is missing or poorly organized. The calendar page is missing … drumroll please … the actual approved and published calendars.

This isn’t a knock on the agency or the vendor. It’s a reminder that quality matters more than name recognition. There are plenty of local companies with roots in the Virgin Islands that have a deep understanding of our needs, culture, and expectations.

So the next time you’re making a decision, don’t underestimate the value of local talent. Sometimes, what you’re looking for is right at home – with vendors who live here, work here, play here, and care enough to get it right.

Who’s your favorite local vendor?