10 reasons to start shopping locally (especially now!)
Economic recession adds more urgency to supporting your local independent retailers!
By WorkCabin.ca Staff
For years across North America, communities have pitched the merits of shopping locally. Some shoppers embrace it. Some don’t. Now, more than ever, though that message has urgent meaning if we are truly committed to building better communities where we live.
1. How we use our dollars has powerful value: Imagine the impact we could have on helping our local economies weather this difficult period by not taking our shopping dollars out of our communities? Consumers actually invest in their community by spending in their community. You may not see the rewards, like you do with an RRSP, but the payoff is quality of living where you live (please read on).
2. Preserve your community’s character: On the outskirts of our communities, big box stores are expanding their reach and making our communities look like Any City, Canada. But in our downtowns, a unique character is maintained that specifically identifiies with each particular city or town. Many of these Main Streets date back 100 years or more. If we lose this character, we see urban decay and loss of pride begin.
3. Support a sustainable community: By shopping locally, you help contribute to a ‘circling’ effect, whereby jobs, taxes, dollars and income remain locally and get spun off again into helping sustain other jobs, wealth, and a vibrant community.
4. You’ll save money and be different: Drive downtown, find a parking spot (many are now free!), or take public transit, and start walking and window shopping! Forget that myth that independent retailers are more costly. They’re not. And they’re truly one of a kind. You’ll find merchandise that’s not available at the big box stores, which means you’ll be using and wearing stuff that’s different from the big-box-obsessed consumers.
5. Support the people who support your community: When we need prizes for corporate events, contributions to charities, sponsorships for sports teams, donations for libraries and schools, who do we turn to? Local retailers. Why? Because they're our neighbours. You won't have fill out a generic form and send it to a head office who knows where). When we shop locally and generate income for local retailers, they in turn have even more incentive to support us.
6. You truly will be appreciated:Most independent retail owners rely on themselves and a small staff to run their business. It means whenever you shop in their store, you’ll see the same faces, get to know them, and form a bond. Got an emergency plumbing job that only requires a small two-inch piece of pipe? You might get it for free from a retailer who has come to know you well as a regular customer. Elsewhere? You’ll be charged $2.25.
7. Support the biggest retail employer in your community:Yes, mega stores do employ many people, but overall, it’s no secret that local businesses are the largest retail employers in Canada. Imagine if that sector disappeared overnight? Our local economies would be devastated – and that means you would definitely be impacted, either directly or indirectly.
8. Of course, it’s better for the environment: Your local retailers likely use less gas to transport goods, or better still, buys much of their goods close to home. They’re also prone to being energy conscious because a hydro bill is a big deal to their bottomline. Now, by shopping locally, you'll also use less gas and generate less harmful emissions. There's that beneficial 'circling' effect coming into play again.
9. Smaller is better: What would you rather have? Hundreds of downtown shops and services, or an entire town or city served by only a half-dozen mega stores? When we lose our local independent retailers, we lose a vital part of competition in the marketplace, and product variety. What you end up with is Generic Town, Canada, and very likely higher prices due to lack of competition.
10. Do you want more prosperity for your community?: It’s a frequent complaint heard all the time: We need more jobs in our community. We need more factories and industries. Here’s a tip: most corporations and companies scout out communities before they choose to locate a plant or head office. And guess which place is on their list? You got it. Your local retailing community. Corporations want to locate in towns and cities where the population demonstrates that they support their community, not shun it. A vibrant community is important to corporations too, and their employees who may be relocating.
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Posted by on 11/28 at 03:07 PM