Look Local - Shop Local
Wondering why shopping locally is so important? Here are just a few reasons:
Support groups in our community: Approximately 250% more support comes from small business owners rather than large businesses.
Maintain the uniqueness in our community: Everything we do in our community – shopping, eating, playing – makes it a unique place to live and makes it home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses, and our tourism businesses, are very important in creating the character of our hometown. Our tourism businesses also benefit. According to Richard Moe, President of the National Historic Preservation Trust, “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.”
Support yourself: When you buy from locally owned businesses, a significantly larger amount of your money is used in purchasing from other local businesses. This, in turn, strengthens the economy in our community.
Create more good jobs: When you buy local, business increases for small local entrepreneurs, which creates more opportunities for employment among the community residents.
Encourage prosperity in the community: Economic studies show that entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest in and settle in communities that maintain their unique character and one-of-a-kind businesses.
Reduce damage to the environment: An increase in local purchases requires less transportation, and small businesses generally set up shop in town or city centers which minimize habitat loss, pollution, sprawl, and congestion.
Better customer service: Employees of local businesses often take more time to get to know customers and learn more about the products that are being offered.
Community investment: Local businesses are usually owned by residents of the community who have a vested interest in the community’s success.
Your taxes are used more efficiently: A local business that builds in the town center, rather than entirely new construction on the perimeter of the town, doesn’t need much in the way of infrastructure investment. These businesses use public services more efficiently than nationally owned businesses that set up shop in our community.
A broader range of product choices: Small business owners often will offer lower prices and their product choices are based on the interests and needs of local customers.