We live in a digital age; we talk to friends who live across the country, and we order everything from t-shirts to chocolates through online stores. Not only are we swayed with the ease of Internet shopping, but major brands are also living in our heads 24/7.
Though it’s never been easy, small businesses are facing more competition than ever from virtual markets. By supporting local businesses, you’d be putting money in the savings accounts of your neighbors. There are multiple benefits for you to shop within the community, and we’ve laid them out here.
1.) Local businesses tend to use other local businesses such as banks, service providers, and farms. Money exchanged at a small business will most likely be deposited in a credit union instead of a larger commercial bank. Waste from a small business will likely go to a local recycling center. And in terms of farms, getting produce distributed locally cuts down significantly on the environmental costs of transport.
2.) For every $100 exchanged at local businesses, $68 will remain in the community. This fact means that your splurge at a small business will more likely be used to buy new uniforms for the community recreation soccer team than ever see the lining of a corporate CEO’s pocket.
3.) Independent retailers return over three times as much money per dollar of sales to the community in which they are located than chain competitors. Independent restaurants on average return more than two times as much money per dollar of sales than national restaurant chains. So when you’re treating yourself to a night out, consider a restaurant that may not have the budget for television commercials, but makes you feel at home nonetheless.
4.) Small businesses employ 77 million Americans, and they accounted for 65% of all new jobs over the past 17 years. For more information, you can check out the U.S. Department of Labor statistics here: https://www.dol.gov
5.) Small business owners are invested in the well-being of your community and its future. Even if they are not your immediate neighbors, they could very well be the parents of your children’s best friends and classmates. It takes a village to grow and prosper.
6). Local businesses can be considered more accountable to their local communities and often donate more money to non-profits.
7.) As mentioned earlier, supporting local businesses is environmentally-friendly, because they often have a smaller carbon footprint than larger companies.
It can be hard to change up habits, so here’s a quick list of suggestions for easily supporting your local community.
- Check out a local gym – even if you don’t join it, you can always recommend the place to someone you know!
- Try the menu at a local diner or restaurant that you’ve never visited before, you may find a new favorite for lunch or dinner!
- Turn away from the mall and buy a gift for a loved one at a gift shop downtown.
- Take your car to a local mechanic for a checkup
- Want a new plant or gardening tool? Check and see if your town has a nursery!
- Look up the nearest farmer’s market for your next fruit and veggies run.
Here at Recycled Materials Group, we want to help you manage your electronic waste. Give us a call today at 603-417-3046 and we’ll answer your questions about our business and assist you as best we can.
