Benefits to Shopping Local this Holiday Season
Holiday Shopping Helps to Build Stronger Communities
Nov 13, 2009
As the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear, consider shopping locally. Sure, going out of town or even across the border might save a few dollars, but consider the time and the gas which factors into the cost of each item. Then decided, is it really worth it?
Local stores are more likely to carry locally produced foods, which helps to support local agriculture. Business owners contribute to more local fundraising initiatives; they provide a majority of jobs and support other local business.
Shopping locally provides better customer service, which creates a better personal shopping experience, which will value the community in the future. Money spent locally also helps to contribute to supporting the community by fixing roads, maintaining recreational facilities and helping fund schools. Competition and diversity result in fair prices and more choices. Shopping locally also helps to reduce the carbon footprint. Local business owners invest in the community and have a vested interest in the future of this community.
So before heading out this holiday season please consider these reasons to shop locally:
Do the Math
Factor in gas, meals, or shipping fees, not to mention the long line ups at the malls, traffic congestion, and the stress and aggravation of driving in potentially inclement weather.
Keep the Dollars in the Local Economy
Shopping locally helps to create jobs. Job creation helps to fund more services like education and emergency services through taxes, investing in neighbourhood improvement, and promoting community development.
Support Community Businesses
The well-being of a community benefits when consumers shop locally. Businesses build strong neighbourhoods by sustaining communities, contributing to local charities, supporting sports teams, festivals, service clubs, school activities and the list goes on.
Save the Environment
Reduce the environmental footprint and save money at the same time. Shopping locally means no need for long drives. Less fuel is being burned, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. It is not difficult to find everything close to home.
Maintaining Local Uniqueness
Communities have a variety of unique specialty shops and products. These businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of the area. The tourism industry benefits from this. When people go on vacation they seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace special. By choosing to support local businesses the communities’ maintain their diversity and distinct flavour.
Consider what Retailers have been Facing
They purchased their stock six months ago hoping to sell it today, pay their employees, pay their taxes, heat and hydro, donate to charity and hopefully pay themselves.
More Jobs and Wages
Supporting local merchants means more jobs and better wages for the community.
Get Better Service
Area merchants take pride in hiring the right people who are passionate about their products and services… let’s support them by shopping locally.
Lots of Great Products
With so many great stores, markets, restaurants and artisans, the choices are endless. There is a broad range of products and services available plus all the top brand names.
Love the Community– Keep the Money There
Encourage local prosperity by keeping hard earned dollars in the local economy.
Conclusion
In these tough economic times, saving money is a top priority. Local merchants have control to offer deals and to source out products that are in demand. Supporting the local economy is also beneficial to the future because it helps to sustain the growth of that community, which translates later into more economic development.
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