There are decisions we make in life that are easy to feel good about — eating healthy, working out, or spending time with someone who needs your attention. But you should also feel good about buying local. Here’s why:
You Just Helped Someone Pay Their Bills
By placing money in a local merchant’s pocket, you just directly helped someone in your community make their mortgage payment.
You Invested in Your Town’s Future
Driving down a Main Street with soaped up windows is depressing but if you’re doing most of your shopping at big box stores, you might be inadvertently bringing this about. Purchase something from a local merchant and you’re investing in your town’s future.
You’re Making Your Town More Appealing
A town with a strong merchant base becomes more appealing to tourists, and while you might not be overly excited about hordes of them in your town, you can’t argue the economic benefit to drawing visitors to your stores and restaurants.
Local businesses are interconnected. A strong, interesting merchant base means more visitors, which improves things for restaurants, hotels, and services. All business is interconnected.
You’ve Set an Example for the Next Generation
You’ve not only helped support your neighbors but you’ve also helped future business owners. A community that gets a reputation as being a great place to start a business will have a thriving future as people move into the area with the hopes of being part of this supportive atmosphere. Kids will also notice the attention received at local merchants and have good memories of their town and how others were so helpful.
You’ve Helped Continue Someone’s Dream
Owning your own business takes a lot of work but it’s something many people dream about. When you support a small business you are supporting someone’s dream of business ownership. Many family businesses are a labor of love and business owners often think about providing a safety net for future generations. You’re a part of that.
The next time you buy local, know you’re getting more than a good deal, or a friendly thank you. There are a lot of reasons to be proud of where you chose to spend your money.
