Top ten reasons to Think Local – Buy Local – Be Local according to Sustainable Connections
- Buy Local – Support yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned business, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms – continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community.
- Support Community Groups: Non-profit organizations receive an average of 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from larger businesses.
- Keep our community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun – all of it makes our community home. One-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the community.
- Reduce environmental impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe.
- Create more good jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in our community, provide the most jobs to residents.
- Get better service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers.
- 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 future.
- Put your taxes to good use: Local businesses in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.
- Buy what you want, not what someone wants you to buy: A marketplace with many small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.
- Encourage local prosperity: A growing body of economic researcher shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.
