At a glance, it might seem like a bunch of confusing acronyms to you, or perhaps you started to doze off when you read the word “economy” (a class I admittedly slept through in college). But the message is really quite simple and one worth sharing... Shop locally!
8 Great Reasons to Shop at Independently Owned and Local Businesses
- Local business owners live in the community and are invested in its future.
- They’re the ones who sponsor your kid’s softball team, donate to the school auction, hire your teenager for a summer job, and sponsor local events (like Green on the Green!)
- They’re one-of-a-kind, unique, shops which give your community character and a distinct personality. Have you been to the Global Gallery Coffee shop in Clintonville? It’s a vintage service station!
- They’re experts in their field and passionate about what they do (think Generation Green Store and House Wines)
- They re-circulate money back into the community because they are more likely to purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms.
- Non-profit organizations receive an average 350 percent greater support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses.
- For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 stays in the local economy, creating jobs and expanding the city’s tax base. For every $100 spent at a national chain or franchise store, only $14 remains in the community.
- And last but not least, building community relationships is priceless... it may just get you extra foam on your latte!
