We’ve all seen the images and quotes explaining that when you buy from a small business, you’re not helping a CEO buy a third vacation home. You’re helping a little girl get dance lessons, a little boy get his team jersey, a mom put food on the table, a dad pay a mortgage, or a student pay for college.

We couldn’t agree more with this quote and we wanted to use this article to discuss three of the often-overlooked reasons to buy local.

• Food Miles are Green

It’s important to at least recognize that buying locally helps the environment by reducing your “food miles”. By shopping locally, you are purchasing goods produced in your local community, which in turn, means that the goods are typically not travelling too far. Think about all the fuel, shipping costs, insurance, tolls, etc. that are a product of goods traveling long distances. Not to mention that local goods are much fresher as a consequence.

• Each Dollar Spent Tends to Stay Local

When you buy from a large chain, the money you spend tends to leave our local communities. Sure, the argument could be raised that large chains employ a lot of people in the community, but how often do you hear stories about large corporations investing in the communities they are a part of? When you support a local business, the money you spend goes a lot farther in the local community and the small business owner oftentimes reinvests that money into the local community. The trickle-down effect is impressive and sustainable.

 

• Transactions are Easier

When you buy from a local seller, you are often speaking directly with the person or persons who made the product. Local sellers are more likely to work with a buyer when there is an issue and are often willing to go the extra mile to ensure their customers are satisfied. If there is something wrong with the good or service, you are in a much better position to make a return or an exchange than you would be if you attempted to do the same with a large chain or an Amazon-type marketplace. Think about a time when you had to return or exchange something at a big-box store and it didn’t end up exactly as planned.

Are there other reasons you would have included? Please leave a comment or send us an email at support@projectbuylocal.org. We love feedback, but we love supporters of local businesses even more. #buylocal #shopsmall #projectbuylocal