How Shopping Small Helps You And Your Community

shop small

marketing planBeing vocal about the benefits of small business can help bring in more customers to shop small, locally-owned and operated companies

While large chains and e-commerce continue to grow and thrive, many consumers are committed to shopping locally. In fact, about 90% of Americans shop with local businesses at least once a week and as many of 42% of them visit more frequently. Shopping with major chains may have an added convenience factor, but shopping locally has many more benefits.

Here are just a few reasons to encourage people in your community to shop with small, local businesses as frequently as possible.

Keep It In The Neighborhood

When consumers shop local, the money they spend goes directly to support those within the community, rather than being filtered away to other states or even countries. Money spent at local stores and restaurants supports business owners within the neighborhood, as well as their employees. Directing funds to these individuals gives them the spending power to further support local businesses, powering neighborhood economies.

Creating Jobs At Home

Shopping locally increases the rate of business at your favorite neighborhood establishments. When business and revenue both increase, it’s much more likely that a small business will be able to hire more employees. This creates jobs within your own neighborhood, rather than pushing jobs to other areas. If your community is struggling with employment, shopping locally can help create more jobs and improve the economy in your town.

Encouraging Ethical Practices

Finally, the convenience and lower prices many larger companies offer often come at a cost. Larger companies are far more likely to make use of unethical business practices, such as sourcing materials irresponsibly or treating their workers poorly. Smaller companies, on the other hand, tend to be far more transparent about their practices. This allows customers to make purchasing decisions with a full understanding of where their products are coming from and what goes into making them.

Shopping locally has a multitude of benefits for both the customer and the community as a whole. Being vocal about the benefits of small business can help bring in more customers to your small, locally-owned and operated company.

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Valerie M.

Contributor at Small Business Marketing Tools
Valerie M. is a writer from Upstate New York. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from The State University of New York at Fredonia in 2016 and is currently working at a digital marketing agency where she writes blog posts for a variety of small businesses all over the country. Valerie enjoys writing about music, animals, nature, and traveling.