There Are Many Reasons To Shop Local This Holiday Season

If there ever was a time to make a commitment to shopping locally and supporting the small businesses in Carlsbad Village, it would be now. Many small, independent retailers and restaurateurs rely on the holiday foot traffic to push them into the black. For Carlsbad Village businesses, both the summer months and the holiday season are the two best times of the year. This year, however, they weren't able to celebrate either.

There are many reasons to shop small and a variety of ways to support your downtown Carlsbad businesses. Whether it's by buying an electronic gift card on Gift Carlsbad (www.giftcarlsbad.com) or buying direct, here are a few reminders why shopping in your own hometown is so important as we close out 2020.

Local Economic Stimulus. When you purchase at locally owned businesses rather than nationally owned, more money is kept in the community because locally-owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms. Purchasing local helps grow other businesses as well as the local tax base.

Non Profits Receive Greater Support. Local business owners donate more to local charities than non-local owners.

Unique Businesses Create Character & Prosperity. The unique character of your local community is defined in large part by the business that reside there, and that plays a big factor in your overall satisfaction with where you live and the value of your home and property.

Most New Jobs Are Provided By Local Businesses. Small local businesses are the largest employers nationally. Plus the more jobs you have in your local community the less people are going to have to commute which means less traffic and pollution.

Customer Service Is Better. Local businesses often hire people with more specific product expertise for better customer service. 

Local Business Owners Invest In Community. Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s welfare and future.

Public Benefits Far Outweigh Public Costs. Local businesses require comparatively little infrastructure and more efficiently utilize public services relative to chain stores.

Competition And Diversity Leads To More Consumer Choices. A marketplace of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.

You Matter More. We talk a lot about exerting influence with your purchasing choices, or “voting with your wallet.” It’s a fact that businesses respond to their customers but your values and desires are much more influential to your local community business than the large big box stores.

Source: The Local Good