Top 10 Reasons to Shop Local
1. Significantly more money re-circulates in Worcester when purchases are made at locally and independent rather than nationally owned, businesses. More money is kept in the community because local, independent businesses purchase from other local businesses and service providers.
2. Most new jobs are provided in Worcester by local, independent businesses. Small, local businesses are collectively the largest employer nationally.
3. Worcester’s one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of our distinctive character. The unique character of Worcester is what has kept or brought us here, and will keep us here.
4. Worcester’s local, independent business owners invest in our community. Local businesses, independent are owned by people who live in locally and, therefore, are more invested in the community's future.
5. Customer service is better. Local, independent businesses are closer to the customer and hire people with more specific product expertise for better customer service.
6. Competition and diversity lead to more choices. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products and services based on the needs of their local customers and not on a national sales plan, guarantees a much broader range of product and service choices.
7. Reduced environmental impact. Shopping at Worcester’s local, independent businesses is more energy efficient. These businesses also make more local purchases, thus reducing their own transportation costs.
8. Public benefits far outweigh public costs. Local, independent businesses require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.
9. Encourages investment in Worcester. A growing body of economic research shows that innovative entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.
10. Non-profits receive greater support. Non-profit organizations receive significantly more support from local, independent business owners than from non-local, non-independent businesses.
Green: Money staying in your community. For every $100 spent locally, $68 remains in the local economy.
Red: Money staying in your community. For every $100 spent locally, $68 remains in the local economy.
These charts illustrate how locally spent dollars are retained and recycled in a community’s economy. On average, $68 of every $100 spent at locally owned, independent businesses stays in the local community versus only $43 of every $100 spent at chain and franchise businesses.
The charts do not factor in the profits made by local, independent businesses. These dollars also stay in the community instead of leaking out through non-local, non-independent businesses.
For more information, Local Works! Examining the Impact of Local Business on the West Michigan Economy, which was published in September 2008 by West Michigan Local First and Civic Economics. To read or download Local Works! in PDF format, click here.
Source: Civic Economics study conducted in October 2004 for the Andersonville (Michigan) Department Corp. and the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to Western Michigan Local First for the use of these charts.