Now more than ever we can see the importance of shopping local. As small businesses and restaurants navigate the effects of a global pandemic, our purchases can make the world of a difference.
Small-scale, locally owned businesses create communities that are more prosperous, connected, and generally better-off across a wide range of metrics. When we buy from our local businesses, rather than national chains, a significantly greater portion of our money is then cycled back through our local economy, and ultimately strengths the base of our whole community.
When you support your local business owner you enjoy benefits you can’t possibly get from shopping at national chains. Your purchase is helping to keep businesses open, support families, and keep the community thriving.
Here are 5 reasons why you should shop small and shop local:
1)Elevate the Local Economy
When you purchase at locally owned businesses more money is kept in the community. By virtue of being ingrained locally, small business owners generally support other local businesses, often shopping at nearby establishments for both personal and business purchases. Your purchase also helps ensure the continued employment of business owners and employees which then support their families and other local businesses.
When you continue to purchase local products, those small business owners will see the community as a place to continue growing their business. They may open other shops, provide additional desired products, or encourage other business partners to come to the same community.
2) Reduce Environmental Impact
Buying from local businesses conserves energy and resources in the form of less transportation full and less packaging. Many local businesses are part of an overall revitalization process. Older buildings have been remodeled and repurposed for different businesses, and the structures themselves don’t typically lend themselves to a big box retailer occupant. These smart growth places also reduce environmental damage from the new building projects, especially multi-acre corporate warehouse stores with enormous parking lots. A compact building can also protect ecologically sensitive areas of the community and reduce urban blight common in downtown areas where shopping malls are taking over.
3) Support Local Families
When you stop to think about it, supporting local comes down to caring about your community. Not only do you reap the rewards listed above, but you ensure that all your neighbours do as well. Your buying habits can support your local economy, your neighbourhood entrepreneurs, and the community. Supporting small business makes you a part of something special, unique and thriving.
4) Create More Good Jobs
Small businesses are the largest employers nationally. According to the Government of Canada, small businesses represent 68.8% of the total labour force in the private sector. Between 2014 and 2019, small businesses accounted for 35.8 percent of the net employment growth in the private sector. Small businesses are the root of our economy and at the heart of every community. As local business become successful, they will grow and open up more job positions that will be filled by local employees.
5) You Matter More
Ever walk into a local store where the owner knows all the customers by their first name? They are friendly and engaging as they talk with their customer about their lives and what the person may need. This personalized customer service is found more with small businesses than with large corporations who only see you as another nameless customer.
There really isn’t any downside when it comes to shopping locally. Small businesses are fully invested in making the community and economy stronger and your purchase only helps support and fuel these goals.
So, take a moment to make a purchase from your favourite small business and support local today.
