Help your community: shop locally!
In a year when so many shops have spent months closed, Lottie Macro reminds us that we need to use our local businesses or lose them forever.
Choosing to support a small local business instead of a large chain store is so important – especially in 2020 – and it has many benefits.
Whether you shop online with websites such as Etsy, which supports independent sellers, or go to your local shops, you will make a positive difference. Here are some reasons why you should shop locally with small businesses...
Due to the impacts of Covid-19, a lot of businesses have suffered and some have even closed down from a lack of sales and lockdown closures. You may have noticed some small businesses have disappeared from your local high street this year. It is important that we start shopping locally to keep these businesses alive. Without them, what would your high street be like? What would be left? It would feel lonely, empty and less welcoming - after all, local businesses create a sense of community.
This year, I have noticed on social media that there has been increased promotion of small businesses and reminders to not forget to shop locally, and hopefully, this will create an impact moving forward. Maybe, after shopping locally this year, you will consider shopping locally more often in the future to come?
Supporting a local small business will provide economic benefits to your community. Firstly, they give back to the local community through tax. Secondly, the shop owners will spend the money from your purchase on other local businesses in your hometown, such as the local pub or corner shop. This means that the money is circulating and allowing your community to keep thriving. Thirdly, shopping with a small business allows entrepreneurs to kickstart their business career.
Small businesses are important for employment. They help to grow the number of jobs in your area and this will boost your local economy. Not only this, small business employers are more likely to pay a higher average wage than a chain shop would, so this will support the people in your community who work for them.
When you go into a small business shop, you are guaranteed good customer service. Of course, customer service in a chain shop is satisfactory, however, small businesses make more effort to get to know their customers. They also provide a pleasant shopping experience for you by recommending products that may suit you. Furthermore, instead of supplying national trending products, small businesses sell products that are based on their customer’s purchase choices. So, you are likely to find more unique products.
Finally, purchasing from small businesses comes with environmental benefits. Small businesses tend to source their products locally, whereas chain shops will receive a lot of their products from overseas. Small businesses often use less plastic packaging and may use paper bags, paper wrapping or other recyclable materials to package their items. Also, if you are going to your local small business, it may be within walking distance. Imagine how much less pollution from transportation there would be if everyone walked to their local shops?
This year, if you have any last-minute Christmas shopping to do, Shop Small - Shop Local. We must not forget about small businesses as we move forward in time. Due to Covid-19 and climate change, supporting small businesses is more important now than ever before.
By Lottie Macro, Year 12
Choosing to support a small local business instead of a large chain store is so important – especially in 2020 – and it has many benefits.
Whether you shop online with websites such as Etsy, which supports independent sellers, or go to your local shops, you will make a positive difference. Here are some reasons why you should shop locally with small businesses...
Due to the impacts of Covid-19, a lot of businesses have suffered and some have even closed down from a lack of sales and lockdown closures. You may have noticed some small businesses have disappeared from your local high street this year. It is important that we start shopping locally to keep these businesses alive. Without them, what would your high street be like? What would be left? It would feel lonely, empty and less welcoming - after all, local businesses create a sense of community.
This year, I have noticed on social media that there has been increased promotion of small businesses and reminders to not forget to shop locally, and hopefully, this will create an impact moving forward. Maybe, after shopping locally this year, you will consider shopping locally more often in the future to come?
Supporting a local small business will provide economic benefits to your community. Firstly, they give back to the local community through tax. Secondly, the shop owners will spend the money from your purchase on other local businesses in your hometown, such as the local pub or corner shop. This means that the money is circulating and allowing your community to keep thriving. Thirdly, shopping with a small business allows entrepreneurs to kickstart their business career.
Small businesses are important for employment. They help to grow the number of jobs in your area and this will boost your local economy. Not only this, small business employers are more likely to pay a higher average wage than a chain shop would, so this will support the people in your community who work for them.
When you go into a small business shop, you are guaranteed good customer service. Of course, customer service in a chain shop is satisfactory, however, small businesses make more effort to get to know their customers. They also provide a pleasant shopping experience for you by recommending products that may suit you. Furthermore, instead of supplying national trending products, small businesses sell products that are based on their customer’s purchase choices. So, you are likely to find more unique products.
Finally, purchasing from small businesses comes with environmental benefits. Small businesses tend to source their products locally, whereas chain shops will receive a lot of their products from overseas. Small businesses often use less plastic packaging and may use paper bags, paper wrapping or other recyclable materials to package their items. Also, if you are going to your local small business, it may be within walking distance. Imagine how much less pollution from transportation there would be if everyone walked to their local shops?
This year, if you have any last-minute Christmas shopping to do, Shop Small - Shop Local. We must not forget about small businesses as we move forward in time. Due to Covid-19 and climate change, supporting small businesses is more important now than ever before.
By Lottie Macro, Year 12