Should You Shop Local?

Zip Find It thinks so, recent events have changed the way people shop and think about shopping local. The benefits of shopping in your local community are numerous. Shopping local is convenient and that can play a huge part in our lives. It is always a time saver to visit the neighborhood store. Often travel to the local business can offset the cost to get to and from the big box store. The added plus is, for every $100 spent, roughly $68 to $73 of it returns to local activity.

Environmentally speaking, shopping in your local store reduces your carbon footprint and saves on fuel prices. It is perfectly suited for those who are mindful of their environmental impact and helps reduce not only your carbon footprint but often, that of the supplier.

Small businesses in and around your community have been hit hard by the effects of the pandemic and inflationary prices. Many have turned to innovative services for their local customers some have even gone online. Whether from a market stall, an actual shop or online, buying from them is a great way to support them both financially and figuratively by showing you love what they do. Many of them are neighbors and supporting local helps improve your community.

Local shopping not only helps the businesses financially but the wider community and its economy. In turn, these thriving independent businesses can help boost the prices of homes and properties within the area.

By using local shops you encourage investment in your community and help insure employment growth. These jobs provide income but hidden within the structure is the tax base for your schools, roads, healthcare and more. Even the new startup can grow when supported locally which leads to more employment opportunities in the local economy. Moreover, there are great deals to be found when you shop local. The small business relies on local traffic and to encourage you to buy from them, they often offer significant discounts. The big box store might not find this necessary, making it a win-win for you and your local business.

Large chain stores and brands dominate advertising and often use low quality items as “loss leaders”. The local business is more likely to focus on the quality of the product because they have a reputation to live up to in the community. Often these products, especially food, are sourced locally which sustains the local economy even more.

You can also discover really unique items that you would never find in a large retail store because they usually follow a pattern of selling mass-created, trending seasonal products. On the other hand, local and independent shops stock items that are traditionally made more locally and not available anywhere else. When buying gifts for someone, local shops can help you find a gift that is unique and personal. The chances are you’d be the first and only person to give it to them.