Many South Whidbey families make their weekly trips up north to Wal-Mart or east to the mainland. They pack the kids into the mini-van and take a 45-minute drive to Oak Harbor or head off island to shop more competitively.

South Whidbey has a high concentration of small businesses and specialty shops but not many large department stores, and prices appear to be higher on South Whidbey.

Even so, the shopping trip can sometimes be a hassle, and the community supports the South End’s small shops. They wouldn’t be fond of a big box store in their backyard.

South Enders might be on to something.

People may be better off to shop local, considering the price of the trip and the chain store discounts are often not as significant as they appear, said Michael Shuman, an attorney and economist and the upcoming Exchange speaker.

“It is my belief that small businesses are the key to economic success,” Shuman said. “But, in large, this is not how economic strategy is pursued.”

Local must come first, he said.

Shuman, author of “Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age,” will speak from 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 4, in the Bayview Cash Store, as a part of The Exchange, a series of issue-based presentations sponsored by The South Whidbey Record and Goosefoot Community Fund.

He will present ideas about how to find local alternatives in a global economy, and will offer strategies for “going local,” including looks at private initiatives, nonprofit innovations and public policies.

Small communities such as Langley have the bone structure to implement these concepts successfully. Bellingham, for example, has been very successful and has brought in about 400 local businesses, he said.

“They have built a marvelous network,” Shuman said.

Shuman believes that communities can build competitive alternatives to big box stores, and he will make the case for alternative business models in which communities reap the benefits of going local.

When shopping local, money remains in the community instead of being sent out of state or even out of the country, he said.

Research shows that local businesses give more to charity, adapt more easily to rising labor and environmental standards, and produce more wealth for a community, he said.

The employees also spend more locally, thereby increasing community income and creating wealth and jobs.

Going local must be a community effort, though. Shuman will introduce five specific strategies to keep in mind in his new book.

• Local planning. Learn where local dollars go that could be circulated within the community.

• Local training. Establish mentorships, training and education opportunities to get as many community members involved in local business as possible.

• Local investing. While many people on Whidbey bank locally, most don’t invest here.

– Local policy making. Shuman said it is vital that local laws and regulations help local business.

– Local purchasing. Local purchasing is something that is already embedded in many South Enders. While very many people do have at least one shopping trip north or off-island, the trend shows that most people do support their local businesses enthusiastically.

Nancy Rowan, executive director of the Langley Chamber of Commerce, said people understand the importance of keeping business healthy and local.

“The lure of lower prices can be very appealing, but living on the island is the result of a conscious decision to be part of a community. Part of maintaining the small town quality of life is supporting the merchants who are an integral part of the fabric of that community,” Rowan said.

Buying and selling local is a relationship that goes both ways.

“Most of our local merchants will try to accommodate requests. They want to support the local community when they are given the opportunity,” she said.

Shuman said it is important to realize that a healthy local economy is the key to a healthy community.

While large chain stores and discounts may be appealing at first sight, small communities will get the shorter end of the stick when allowing big business into town.

Families are lured in with compelling discounts and deals, but may get bad quality. Brand names often produce lower quality lines for discounters, Shuman said. Customers trade quality for discounts.

Often, the promise of big savings may not hold true under closer inspection.

“It is a mistake to simply assume that Wal-Mart is cheaper,” he said.

Often, savings average out and a recent study has shown that chain store drug prices often are above local or small drug store prices, Shuman added.

Community and local government that welcome large retailers into town in hopes of collecting high tax revenues may cause more damage than good.

“When Wal-Mart comes in, other stores go out,” he said.

Also, communities across the country have given Wal-Mart billions in tax breaks to make themselves attractive as a location, he said.

The economic winner? Wal-Mart.

Known for his enthusiasm when it comes to issues related to economics of small communities, Shuman will bring with him his latest research findings and recommendations for creating and sustaining a vital and sustainable local economy on Whidbey Island and in Island County.

Sherry Mays, publisher of The South Whidbey Record, said she is proud to bring one of the nation’s most dynamic speakers on building healthy, vibrant communities to South Whidbey.

“Back in November, members of the Langley business community looked at kicking off a buy local campaign for the holidays. Although I thought it was a great idea, I knew we had to work together outside of the crazy holiday season to find out what our priorities are, what our resources are and what we can do to make this not just a seasonal or a year-round campaign, but a change in our philosophies on how to support our communities,” Mays said. “This is a lifelong campaign and one that will benefit generations to come.”

In recent years Shuman has been promoting the concepts of going local through a variety of projects, including creating small-business venture capital funds, launching a community-owned company, organizing university-government-business collaborations in New York and Maine to study opportunities for import replacement, preparing a buy-local guide and coupon books, developing a Website to support marketing by family farmers, serving as a senior editor for the Encyclopedia of Community, and building the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, a network of, by and for community-based business.

His latest book, “The Small-Mart Revolution,” will be published in June.

Shuman’s presentation is open to the public and costs $10 per person.

On Wednesday evening, following the presentation, Goosefoot is inviting the public to a conversation cafe, an opportunity to mix and mingle and discuss Shuman’s strategies. The event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Bayview Cash Store Front Room.

Vicki Robin, co-author of “Your Money or Your Life” and co-creator of the Conversation Cafe, will facilitate the first of many engaging Community Conversation Cafes.

“I think it’s great that we’re partnering with Goosefoot under their mission of sustainable education. Sharing in the quest to strengthen our community, is so exciting,” Mays said. “I think it was great that Goosefoot brought the Community Cafe idea to the table. This is the perfect way to say, ‘OK, now it’s time to make things happen. It’s time to make a difference,’ all in a supportive environment.”