Shopping local often means buying products and services that, while available in large online retailers you choose to buy them from a local retailer.
Think of the difference between eating at a chain vs. eating at a local restaurant. What are the obvious advantages and disadvantages of both?
At a chain, you have a consistent menu everywhere you go, but at a local restaurant, you have variety that you can’t get from a chain.
At a chain, your individual feedback is not valued, because they have a marketing company that makes purchasing decisions for the entire company, while a local restaurant may value your input more because that makes the difference between whether they succeed or fail.
You would be surprised to know that allot of local businesses DO NOT shop locally.
While these people encourage you to shop locally to help them pay the bills, they themselves do not.
It goes both ways.
And why not? For the same reasons many of you don’t. They think shopping locally is more expensive or that national or international vendors are better.
Shopping is more than just price and item. That’s the problem, we tend to think that there are some things that are personal and there’s something that are strictly business but when you’re dealing with people, there’s no such distinction and the sooner we realize that, the better.
Every business interaction is a human interaction and therefore a personal interaction. To shop locally, means making personal connections that you cannot and will not make shopping big box stores.
Reasons to shop local.
The main reason we all should shop locally has nothing to do with all the reasons that people try to guilt you into shopping locally. The main reason we ought to shop locally is to connect with the people around you and to help build our community. To get to know the people that sell the products and services that you buy. That itself is a such an important part of being part of a community.
It’s a restoration of community involvement, it’s getting to know people around you and making connections. And this is more than just a cat poster, it has real world benefits to you.
You might need a job one day.
You may never think about it this way, but doing business locally means making connections that may turn into something in the future. Maybe you will find a new friend, a mentor, a client or a employer.
Local control
Shopping local, not only makes personal connections, but also gives you local control over the products and services available to you.
If your only goal is only to save a dollar on the stuff you buy now and the price tag is the only variable that bothers you, you may be losing out on opportunities that are not related necessarily to price.
How to shop local
So now that you’re convinced (and I hope that you are) to shop locally, how do you do it? Does it matter where you shop?
Oh yes! Shopping local is a big part of community and that means you need to shop with people that have compatible values.
If the business people in your community are not compatible with your values, don’t be afraid to do business with someone. Support the businesses that support and share your values.
And THAT is a major reason you absolutely should shop local. You have no idea what kind of people that run those big box retailers and likely you never will. Do they share your values? Or do they hold opposing values? You may think you have an idea of what kind of people they are, but you really do not.
Supporting local businesses is more than just keeping your money local, but supporting the people that share your values.
What if there are shortages or supply-chain disruptions?
If (or when) there is another outbreak like COVID or a war or something else that disrupts the supply chain, especially in regards to food supply and you’re not supporting local food producers, you may find yourself going hungry. However, if you support local businesses, and through your continued support you forged a personal connection, your support during hard times will be helpful both to you and to them.
What if you just can’t afford to shop local?
Maybe there’s a product that you really love from a major retailer and you’ve looked for a local alternative and they are just more than you can afford? What do you do?
There are a few things you can try. First, maybe ask the local retailer if they have cheaper alternatives and try that. If that works, you may end up saving money shopping local. Or you may also try finding a different retailer that sells that same product. Or, you can even try going into business yourself selling that product.
What if you have food allergies or on a particular diet?
Often local producers/retailers will be more sensitive to unique or different needs. Ask if they have products that better suit your needs. You may be pleasantly surprised how willing they are to accommodate you.
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