There used to be a time, back in the 1920s and 1930s, when cities and towns had bustling shopping districts. There were plenty of independently owned businesses like jewelers, clothing boutiques, and other establishments meant to cater to locals. Then big box stores and large shopping malls took over with the advent of the interstate highway system.
What does that mean for shoppers nowadays?
There are still plenty of reasons to shop with small businesses in your area. Even if you don’t have a cute women’s clothing boutique in your downtown area, chances are you can find an independent business online that sells just the kind of unique and curated clothing you’re looking for. Here are eight reasons to shop with small businesses.
1. You’ll Give Back to Communities
When you shop with a small business, you’re giving back to a community. You’re spending money in an area where the sales tax stays in the area where you’re buying it. You’re helping support that community by funding public education, local parks, and vital services like firefighting.
Even if you’re not buying from a brick-and-mortar store, it’s really helpful to businesses when you buy from small or independent businesses. Let’s say you want to buy holiday clothes for women this season. Instead of going to the big department store at the mall, look online and see where you can buy some cute clothing from a unique and independent store.
2. You’ll Help Create Jobs
Whenever you purchase from a small business, you’re helping create jobs. Small businesses are in the lead for adding jobs to the economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses drive job growth in the United States by about eight million, unlike big brands that are responsible for reducing jobs by four million.
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3. You’ll Experience Great Customer Service
Shopping at a big brand means that you won’t always get the stellar customer service you’re hoping for. They simply don’t have the bandwidth to get to know customers on an intimate level. After all, there isn’t exactly an incentive for them to have to work hard to be unique.
Independent businesses have more skin in the game, so they have more incentive to get to know you to build a loyal customer base. They’ll be far more attentive and incentivized to directly and happily assist you.
They also tend to be experts in certain areas. If you’re looking for trendy dresses at your local shop, the local shopkeeper probably sourced those dresses or even made those dresses herself. She’s better equipped to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
4. You’ll Feel More of a Sense of Community
Small businesses help create a sense of community. We’re more than just shoppers. We’re humans that need to feel like we’re part of a community. It doesn’t have to be a physical shop. You can find your community online by finding independent shops you would have never come across in your own town.
You’ll have that feeling of comfort when you shop at a business, knowing that your patronage is directly helping that small business owner succeed. When you shop locally, you’re helping friends and neighbors. You know them, and they know you.
5. You Can Get Unique Gifts
Here’s another great benefit of shopping with small businesses. You’re getting unique gifts that you wouldn’t have found at the big box establishment. You’re buying something special and curated that the local business got just for their store.
6. Small Businesses Need Your Help
A small business needs your support. Your patronage can help give the business just the help they need. One of the best things you can do if you love a brand is to help spread the word about the business.
Show your appreciation by shopping locally, shopping small, and spreading the word to family, friends, and anyone you know who needs a recommendation.
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7. The Environment Also Benefits
In addition to communities benefiting from your shopping, you’ll also be helping the environment. It’s more environmentally friendly to shop locally.
Many local businesses want to source unique products or reduce costs altogether from themselves by sourcing raw, local materials. That means the distance that the goods traveled to get to the shop owner is reduced.
No global shipping costs mean less packaging and a smaller carbon footprint.
8. Shopping Small Leads to a Better Shopping Experience
Due to a whole host of issues, from supply chain woes to rising inflation, it’s getting harder and harder for the big brands to offer flashy deals. The supply of your favorite goods is low. The demand is higher than ever.
Prices at these bigger brands aren’t dropping anytime soon. Instead, you’re much more likely to get better deals for gifts like cute women’s clothing this season when you shop small.
You’ll experience a more personalized service and fewer shoppers to deal with when you’re buying curated items for you or the person you have in mind.
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