You often hear the mantra “shop small; shop local.” Have you ever considered the reasons why?
According to Michael H. Shuman, author of the book, Going Local, “Going local does not mean walling off the outside world. It means nurturing locally owned businesses that use local resources sustainably, employ local workers at decent wages, and serve primarily local consumers. It means becoming more self-sufficient and less dependant on imports. Control moves from the boardrooms of distant corporations and back into the community where it belongs.”
When you purchase from a locally owned business, you are
- Stimulating the Local Economy: More money is kept in the community because locally-owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers, and farms. Purchasing local helps grow other businesses as well as the local tax base.
- Non Profits Receive Greater Support: Local business owners donate more to local charities than non-local owners. We here at Braxton’s are honored to support our local rescues and shelters.
- Diverse Products: The unique character of our local community is defined in large part by the businesses that reside there. Check out the Wayne Business Association’s page for a list of local restaurants, merchants, and service providers.
- Provide New Jobs: Small, local businesses are the largest employers nationally. Plus the more jobs you have in your local community, the shorter your commute.
- Interesting Products: Small businesses often sell unique, one-of-a-kind products.
- Product Knowlege: Local business owners are well informed about their products and know what they are selling. We at Braxton’s pride ourselves in knowing our customers and their needs. Our team members are especially well-educated in pet nutrition.
- Better Service: Local business owners do what they do because they are passionate about their products and typically take more time to get to know their customers. This is certainly true for us. We love pets and their owners.
- Local Business Owners Invest In Community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s welfare and future.
- Cost Effective: Sometimes prices at local businesses are the same or better than bigger box stores because they don’t have the overhead that larger stores may have.
- Personal Connection: Getting to know the store owners is a great reason to shop local. It’s their business; they are the decision-makers, and they build a personal relationship with their customers.
So the next time you head out to go shopping, consider shopping small and local.
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