We've all heard the term "shop local," but what does that really mean? Put simply, shopping at locally owned businesses keeps jobs in the community and supports your neighbors. When you buy from a small business, more of your dollars stay in the local economy. This is good for you and good for your community. Here are some of the reasons why it's important to support businesses that create jobs right here at home:
It's Better For Your Community and Local Economy
When you buy from a small, local business, you're not only supporting that business owner—you're supporting all the people that the business employs. And that's good for everyone in your community.
Unlike big box stores and national chains, which send their profits to shareholders located all over the country (or even all over the world), locally-owned businesses reinvest their profits right back into the community—which means stronger neighborhoods and a healthier local economy for everyone. In fact, for every $100 spent at a local business, roughly $68 stays in the local community. That number drops to less than $43 when you spend that same $100 at a national chain store.
Creates More Jobs
Another great reason to support local and American businesse is that it helps create more jobs. When you buy from a small business, you're not only supporting that particular business, but you're also helping to create jobs in the community. This is good for the economy and helps reduce unemployment.
Helps Ensure Quality & Fair Prices
One of the main reasons people choose to support local and American businesses is to ensure quality and fair prices. When a lot of small businesses have to compete with each other, they're more likely to offer high-quality products and services at competitive prices. Small businesses are also more nimble and can respond quickly to changes in the market. This helps keep prices down and encourages businesses to continue innovating to meet customer needs. This is good for both consumers and businesses!
Local Businesses Are More Likely To Give Back To Their Communities
When you support a local business, you're not just supporting the owners and employees—you're also supporting the causes that they care about. Local businesses are often major sponsors of little league teams, the arts, and other community programs. They also typically donate a higher percentage of their profits to charities than national chains do.
It's Better for the Environment
Believe it or not, shopping local can actually be better for the environment. Smaller stores tend to carry products that are made locally or regionally, which cuts down on transportation emissions, pollution, and congestion.
Additionally, many local businesses like Northwind Supply Co. are environmentally conscious and strive to use sustainable, eco-friendly practices as much as possible. This can include anything from using recycled or upcycled materials to packaging products to powering their storefronts with renewable energy.
Better Customer Service
Have you ever had a problem with a purchase from a big box store and felt like you were talking to a robot? Or tried to reach customer service and been placed on hold for an eternity? When you support small businesses, you're more likely to receive personalized service and attention when something goes wrong. That's because small business owners have a vested interest in making sure their customers are happy; they know that word-of-mouth is their best form of advertising. And because small businesses typically have fewer customers than big corporations, they have more time to focus on providing excellent customer service. Additionally, small business owners are usually passionate about their products or services and want their customers to be happy, so they'll often go above and beyond to make sure you're satisfied.
You Can Feel Good About What You're Buying
When you know that your purchase supports ethical and sustainable practices, it feels good! At Northwind Supply., we take pride in knowing that all our products are made in the USA using high-quality materials. We also strive to create jobs in the community by hiring local artisans to help us design and produce our products. So when you shop with us, you can rest assured that your purchase is supporting good causes.
The next time you need to make a purchase, think about where your money will have the most impact. Choosing to support local and American businesses is a great way to invest in your community and ensure that your hard-earned dollars benefit those who need it most—right here at home!
