Sure, we all love a trip to Target, a coffee from Starbucks, or flaunting a name brand on our clothes. While shopping from large businesses and chains may seem like an easy way to get the products and services you want, have you ever considered shopping from a small, local business instead? Not only will you be able to get many of the same items you would in a larger business, but you’ll also get the satisfaction of supporting the people within your community as well as your local economy. Of course, these are only some of the many benefits that come with shopping at a small business! As a bank who knows a thing or two about supporting community businesses, we’re happy to share some of our favorite perks to shopping small.

 

Get Personal

When corporations have hundreds of stores and millions of customers who they serve every day, it’s more likely that you will be just another transaction to them. On the other hand, shopping small gives you the opportunity to talk with the people who are making and distributing the products face-to-face. As a result, there’s a greater chance that they will take the time to get to know you, what you like and dislike, and how they can best help you.

When you form a genuine connection with a real businessperson and not some chatbot or customer service line, then it can also be easier and faster to communicate questions or product requests. Plus, who doesn’t love the welcoming feeling of being remembered every time you walk into a store?

 

Keep Your Money Local

As we touched on, one of the biggest perks to buying local is that your money will stay local. Each time you make a purchase at a small business, around two-thirds of every dollar spent will reenter the local economy. In turn, those funds can be used to help build, maintain, and beautify your community.

In addition, the men and women who run small businesses are more likely to work with other small vendors to obtain the materials they need to create their products. Therefore, by reinvesting in other local businesses they also help to give the local economy a boost. On top of all this, small businesses who wish to grow can open other locations within the area and thereby assist in creating more job opportunities for the people who live nearby.

 

Find More Versatile Products

To compete with larger businesses, small business owners often try to get creative to differentiate themselves and entice customers to shop with them instead. This creativity is often reflected in the products and services that are sold. As a result, you can often buy pieces at small businesses that you won’t be able to find anywhere else!

Furthermore, you can trust small business owners to be highly knowledgeable about their goods and services because they’re also the people who are making and selling them. This means that they’ll be better informed to find the right product for you – and they may even be willing to create something personalized!

 

Support Your Friends, Family, and Neighbors

Unlike most large companies, the people who are running small businesses are not some faraway strangers. In fact, they may be your friends, family, or neighbors. Consequently, these are local people with a real, vested interest in taking care of you and your community. Whether that’s by donating to local charities, reinvesting money into your town, or simply providing you with first-rate, personal customer service, you can trust that by purchasing from a small business you are purchasing from someone who wants to support you too.

More than this, when you shop from a small business you are helping to support the dreams of your fellow residents. Buying local or even recommending a local business to others means that you have played a part in helping that business owner turn their passion into a success!