Top 5 Benefits of Shopping Local

Small Business Saturday has come and gone (it was November 24, 2018). Many shoppers took joy in skipping the hectic big store crowds for a locally connected experience. While Small Business Saturday is a wonderful event, you can shop local at any time of the year. Particularly around the holidays, you can do your part to support the small, and in many cases family-owned, businesses in your Maryland community by shopping local.

Why Is Shopping Local So Popular?

Since American Express kicked off the first SBS event in 2010, it’s become a national shopping tradition, with 112 million consumers spending $15.4 million at small local businesses in 2016. Additionally, a reported 82% of American consumers now planning to shop or eat at an independently owned store or restaurant during this year’s celebration. What’s more? The benefits to both you and your community are impressive and numerous when you shop locally at small businesses. Let’s take a look at the top five:

1. You’ll support your local community

Shopping local keeps your money in the community. You strengthen your schools, keep the roads paved, support your firefighters, police department, and more. As an example, for every $100 you spend locally, $68 stays local. When you spend it at a national chain? Only $43 remains in the community.

2. You’ll improve your health

Local farmers give shoppers better access to locally grown produce, which is often fresher and better-tasting, raised without unnecessary chemicals, antibiotics, and pesticides, as well as organics of all kinds, grass-fed meats and local honey (believed to be especially helpful in managing allergies). Additionally, according to Michael Pollan, the local farmer’s market is one of the places where we as regular citizens can show our solidarity with local farmers instead of corporations with regard to our food production. This, in turn, keeps us connected with the land and what grows with the changing seasons and allows us to live in harmony with nature.

3. You’ll help create local jobs

Not only will you help create them, but they’ll pay better, too. Local shopping leads to higher-paying local jobs for teachers, service workers, and much more. A recent study conducted in Grand Rapids, Michigan claimed that as little as a 10% shift in market share to local firms could create over 1,600 jobs in Kent County, for example.

4. You’ll raise your property value

Having easily walkable city streets allowing residents to stroll to schools, shops, and otherwise can boost property values remarkably. According to one recent study, “home values in neighborhoods with strong independent retail districts grew at a much faster rate over a 14 year period than those without.”

5. You’ll find unique items – while keeping your community unique

Every town you drive through in America has instantly recognizable chain stores and restaurants, but only your town has that one-of-a-kind boutique, quaint diner, or old-fashioned ice cream shop. Keep it in business and ensure your town preserves its own incomparable style and distinctive products.

We hope you and your family enjoy all the benefits of staying local this holiday season and invite you to stop in at your nearest Sneade’s Ace Home Center for a visit! We’ll be happy to see you, and can help you find whatever you need. Happy shopping!