8 Reasons to Support Local Businesses

 

Recently my family and I visited our local farmer’s market and local coffee shop and had a blast. My husband got his hands on a Carolina Reaper and Scorpion pepper from a local hot pepper business and the kids got cookies and apples. There is something about supporting local (even small) businesses that does the heart good. It feels like there are so many out there I just want to support them all. This post will highlight the reasons why you should support local businesses.  Running any kind of business can either kick off slowly or right off the bat and do well. My husband ran a handyman business for a year and while he had regulars there were times we didn’t know who the next client would be.  God always brought the right people or referrals along and we made it with four kids, but that business ended due to a new job (with employee benefits I might add).

Now that I run this blog as a hobby with some compensation from time to time and LipSense (the smudge proof, kiss proof long lasting up to 18 hour liquid lip stick) I know the pressures of the unknown but it’s definitely rewarding and fun. There are probably hundreds of reasons to support local businesses that I probably won’t touch on but I welcome your input or your take on why YOU should support them. The reasons below are my personal opinions or thoughts.

Reason #1: When you support local businesses you are helping to keep money in your community  versus paying money to high corporations that may sell similar products. Money to high corporations often times means you may not be keeping money in the community but rather internationally. For example, most products in small or local businesses are made or produced in the United States (for example LipSense is made in the United States, Lularoe, and many other local shop products).

 

Reason #2: Some local businesses offer customer customization. For example, my husband and I have shopped for hemp necklaces or jewelry and often times have not found what we have wanted.  Most of the time we  have found local businesses will customize their necklaces or jewelry to that of the customers preference for little to no extra fee.

Reason #3: Local businesses may have a particular trade or sell items that are handmade, unique, grown from their own land etc. and you are helping to provide extra or most of the income for that family.

Reason # 4: When you support local businesses you get to meet the owners and workers and form relationships. For me it is fun to see the faces behind the products or trade and to know first hand how proud they are of their work or trade.

 

Reason #5: Environmentally friendly. Most of your local businesses are either online, brick and mortar as well as online or all together in one town or street. Our local farmer’s market is right in the heart of other local businesses and are within walking or bike riding distance from each other, therefore gas is saved and less air pollution.

Reason #6: Gives small or local business owners a sense of accomplishment. For the owners that I have talked to and from personal experience there is a sense of accomplishment and the drive to continue making and putting out more as it is a rewarding aspect to a business

Reason #7: You build a strong sense of community and can develop friendships from it.

Reason #8: It does the heart good to know you supported a local or small business and you can easily refer others to their business.

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 What local business(es) have you shopped at recently? What are your reasons to shop locally or small business?