top 10 reasons to shop local

When you choose to patronize a small, independent business, you are making a decision that not only benefits you, but your entire community. With this one simple choice, you help:

1. INVEST IN YOUR NEIGHBORS

Local businesses are owned and operated by your neighbors! By supporting their businesses, you are supporting them and encouraging entrepreneurship within your community.

2. STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL ECONOMY

For every $100 you spend at local businesses, $68 will stay in the community. This is 2-3 times as much as chain competitors.

3. SUPPORT OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES

Local businesses are more likely to utilize other local businesses such as banks, printers, service providers, and business professionals.

4. PRODUCE MORE LOCAL JOBS

Small businesses accounted for 65% of all new jobs over the past 17 years.

5. GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY

Local businesses donate twice as much to non-profits, events and teams compared to big businesses. Local owners are invested in the well-being of your community and its future because they live there, too.

6. GENERATE MORE CHOICE

A wide variety of independent businesses creates more overall consumer choice than just a few big players.

7. GET BETTER SERVICE

Surveys by the Consumers Union consistently show independent businesses beat their chain competitors in overall customer satisfaction.

8. DECREASE IMPERSONAL BUREAUCRACY

Without the layers of automated phone menus and call center reps common to big businesses, you are more able to reach a real decision-maker, often even the owner, if you have a concern.

9. LOWER TAXES

Local businesses generate more tax revenue per sales dollar and put less demand on infrastructure, lowering everyone’s tax burden.

10. CREATE A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT

Smaller businesses typically have a smaller environmental footprint and research shows a strong correlation between the percentage of small locally-owned firms and various indicators of personal and community health and vitality.