Love Local ❤️️ – It’s more than just a catch phrase.
From choosing local restaurants, to shopping at locally-owned boutiques, “love local” is a way of being for so many. But what exactly is it that patrons love about local?
We asked a community of local enthusiasts what they love about local, and these are the top ten reasons on why they love supporting local businesses.
1. They ❤️️ supporting the local economy
We heard over and over again that the number one reason they love to support local is because more of their money spent at local businesses stays in the local economy. “It’s like recycling money”, said one patron. Every person benefitting from that small business in turn fuels the local economy.
2. They ❤️️ supporting regular people they know
Buy local enthusiasts know that when they support a small business, they’re helping out friends, neighbors, and hard-working people right in their own community. It’s making sure that someone locally can pay their bills, feed their family, and even use those dollars to employ other individuals, keeping more jobs local.
3. They ❤️️ the sense of community created by small businesses
Small businesses create a thriving local community, from sponsoring local youth sports teams and fundraisers, to supporting schools and nonprofits. They also create local events and partner with other small businesses to create meaningful ways for community members to engage outside of their homes.
4. They ❤️️ that small businesses give their town its character
Without small businesses, communities would look just like each other, with all the major chains and big box stores to shop from and eat at. However, it’s the vast variety of small businesses that truly make each community unique! Every new shop, eatery, entertainment venue (and more) makes the whole town more engaging, exciting, and attractive as both a place to visit and live.
5. They ❤️️ the customer service from local businesses
Love local enthusiasts rave that the service at a small local business is often much better than at non-local stores. As one local enthusiast put it, “when the employees and customers are their friends and neighbors, they pay them better and treat them better”. They also agreed that local businesses are often friendlier, likely to do right by their customers, and provide better (and more personalized) customer service before, during, and after the sale.
6. They ❤️️ that their input can make a difference
Local business owners spend so much time perfecting their business, product offerings, menu items, and more. And yet, customers often have a big impact on what’s being offered. Small businesses are better equipped to take suggestions from customers, read social reviews, and make changes or tweaks on their offerings without having to wait for approval from a corporate executive.
7. They ❤️️ quality they can trust
Many local enthusiasts know that local businesses are likely to offer better quality items. Not only has the business owner likely vetted the items and manufacturers they have in store, but they often test them on themselves first. Trying the product, seeing how the product fits, tastes, or functions. So when you ask a business owner their opinion on a product, they’re likely to give you their first-hand account AND tell you about who made it.
8. They ❤️️ the proximity of local businesses
Several local enthusiasts commented on how they’re buying local goods that already exist in their community, saving on packaging and CO2 exhaust to deliver their goods. Some supporters prefer local businesses that source goods and services from other local businesses in their community, keeping the carbon footprint low and local economic impact high.
9. They ❤️️ to brag about their city
Each local business gives the locals a sense of pride in their community, and a chance to brag about what exists only in their town. Local shops often have one-of-a-kind items, or unique products you can’t get anywhere else. It’s fun to take out-of-towners to your favorite local hangs, or buy that unique local gift for a far-away-friend, sharing a bit of what makes the town so special.
10. They ❤️️ personal connection
To sum it all up, local enthusiasts just ❤️️ the connection they have to local businesses. Whether it’s because the business owner sends you a message when a new shipment has arrived and they’re holding your size behind the counter, or because a restaurant went out of their way to make sure your birthday party went off without a hitch. Sometimes the connection to the cafe down the block is that they make THE best chocolate raspberry scone, EVER, or perhaps it’s that you went to high school with the owner of the new bar. Whatever the exact reason is, local enthusiasts feel connected to the small businesses they’re supporting.
As local community members, you get to cast your vote for what kind of community you want by where you spend your time and money. Every dollar spent locally is an investment in the people who care about your community and a part of what makes your community a great place to live and work.
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Member Marketplace, Inc. is a new wave of economic development, making it easy to shop small, local businesses, online.
Now operating in 18 states, our clients include state and local government organizations, tourism bureaus, chambers of commerce, Small Business Development Centers, and other business support organizations throughout the U.S. We manage the platform, support and train businesses, and provide customer service to shoppers. Our partners can now market one website and bring exposure to all of their local businesses, while making it easy for consumers to buy products and services through one site.
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