In today’s day and age, it is often difficult to decide between shopping at a large corporation or a small local business. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but when it comes to considering the economic and social impacts, shopping at a local business can often be the better option.

When making choices about where to spend your money, it is important to consider the implications of your decision. Many people may be tempted to buy from a big name chain store because it is familiar and seems like the ‘safe’ option. However, this is far from the truth. It is important to think about the impact of your purchase – and the fact that when you shop local, more of your money is kept within your own local economy.

When You Buy Local The Money Stays In Town

According to the 3/50 Project, when you shop at a local business, over 50% of your money stays in the local economy. Buying from big name chain stores, on the other hand, means that much of the money is sent back to a corporate office, to be spent on expensive advertising campaigns – rather than staying in the community. It is crucial to consider these implications when making decisions about where to spend your money.

When shopping at a small local business, rather than a large corporation, the local community benefits in numerous ways. The money spent at a local business is more likely to stay within the local economy, rather than big corporate chains, who often take the profits far away, sometimes even out of the country. 

When You Buy Local You Solve Local Problems

Everybody complains about the world, but they may not realize that the best way to make it better is to support local businesses. In fact, large corporations are not even the biggest employers.

According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses (defined as those with fewer than 500 employees) employ over 58 million people in the United States – that’s 47.5 percent of the entire U.S. workforce. This means that supporting local businesses is one of the best ways to make a positive impact on the economy and the community.

Shopping at local stores means that more of your money is kept within the local economy, and the money is spent on local jobs and resources. This is why it is so important to choose locally owned businesses when making decisions about where to spend your money.

When You Buy Local Your Money Is Reinvested In Your Community

Keeping your money reinvested back into the local economy, creating more jobs and increasing the local tax base, will help fund necessary services and amenities.

By shopping locally, you are also supporting the small business owners’ dreams, rather than the large corporate conglomerates. Small business owners are often more invested in the community, and they often use their profits to reinvest in the local economy, rather than taking the money elsewhere. This creates new jobs, providing more opportunities for locals, and it also allows small business owners to create a better quality of life for themselves and their employees.

The Environment Benefits When You Buy Local

Additionally, shopping at a local business can reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services purchased. Small businesses often use local resources and materials, meaning that their products don’t have to be shipped from far away. This reduces the amount of energy consumed in the production and transportation of the goods, and it helps to reduce your carbon footprint as well.

And the environmental impact of large semi-trucks is significant. Large corporations often use their own fleets of trucks to ship goods, meaning there are even more trucks on the roads. This increases air pollution and contributes to global warming. According to a recent report from the National Resources Defense Council, long-haul trucking accounts for 20 percent of the total climate impact of the transportation sector.

The report also found that the transportation sector is the single largest source of climate pollution in the United States. This means that buying from big name chain stores can have a significant environmental impact. Therefore, it is important to consider the environmental implications of your decisions when choosing where to shop.

Skip Social Media And Be Social

Shopping at a local business also has social benefits. When you shop at a small business, you are more likely to get to know the owners and employees, creating a sense of community and connection. Additionally, small businesses often provide more personalized service, as they are often more invested in the customer experience. This can make the shopping experience more enjoyable, as the employees are often more knowledgeable and helpful.

It is important to consider the implications of buying from big name chain stores when making decisions about where to spend your money. Not only does this mean that less of your money is kept within the local economy, but it can also have a negative impact on local organizations and activities. For example, local Little League teams are often supported by local businesses, rather than big name chain stores. These local businesses provide much-needed resources, such as equipment and uniforms, for the teams. Without the support of these businesses, many Little League teams would not be able to participate in the activities and events they enjoy. 

Therefore, when making decisions about where to spend your money, it is important to consider the impact on local organizations and activities. This is something I’m familiar with personally as I worked for a large multi-national company for decades. We would have store managers ask for this to be approved in their budgets to try to connect with the community and was always denied. Why? Because it could not be shown to have a direct increase in profit. 

Voting With Your Wallet When You Buy Local

Cancel culture has become a popular term, especially in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement. While it is important to hold corporations accountable for their behavior and demand change, it is also important to remember that voting with your wallet is often the most effective way to make a difference.

When You Buy Local It Supports More Jobs

When you buy from a local business, you are supporting your local economy and helping to create jobs. You are also sending a message to large corporations that the needs of the community are more important than quarterly profits and bonus structures. Therefore, when making decisions about where to spend your money, it is important to consider the implications of your choice and the impact it will have on the local economy and community.

In conclusion, when considering the economic and social impacts of shopping at a local business instead of a large corporation, it is clear that there are many benefits. Shopping at a local business helps to keep money and resources within the local community, reducing the environmental impact and creating more jobs. Additionally, shopping at a small business helps to create a sense of community and connection, while providing a more personalized and enjoyable shopping experience.