Small businesses are making a resurgence in many different markets. Corporate businesses with nationwide or regional reach are sometimes hard to compete with, so when you find a small business that you love, be sure to show your support.
You may be a small business owner yourself or you may be thinking about becoming a small business owner, and surely one must practice what they preach and support businesses similar to their own.
We’ve put together a quick list of the best ways to support small businesses in order to directly provide financial support to businesses and their employees that you love:
Buy Local
A great way to support local business people in your community is to be sure to buy local and to select local businesses for your services.
If you have repairs to be conducted on your car or home, why not look to a local company that is employee owned? There are usually many choices to make when you are seeking service-oriented companies to work with. Be sure to call around and compare the prices, business approach, and service details before you decide which company you will use.
Asking for referrals from your network is a great way to also find out about new companies that could be able to provide the services you need.
Shop With Discretion
When you are looking for a new item, don’t just buy the first thing you see. Think about what you need. There may be items that are available produced by many different labels, some of which are local or handmade.
Do your research by checking online for the products you want and see if there are brands you love that support small business. Amazon, Etsy, and product websites are also great places to look when you are comparing products.
Some of our favorite brands include clothing from independent retailers and customized equipment from retailers, like Extreme Sports WannaBes, who remind us that “If you’re a WannaBe like us, then you know that the most important part of any adventure is the story that comes after.”
Traveling to other cities for shopping events is a great way to travel and see new places as well.
When you would like to support small businesses, you can also try to visit local markets to shop. These may include retail establishments, restaurants, craft markets, antique markets, art fairs, and more!
Go Organic or Farm-to-Table
When it comes to food, what better way to support local farmers than to choose to purchase locally.
There are usually options in areas where local farms are in operation that can be utilized by small-scale and large-scale farmers. Whether it’s buying from a farmers’ market or signing up for a weekly or monthly delivery plan, you can receive locally grown products in many locales.
For meats or seafood, shop local markets as well. Be sure to ask if products are shipped or local, fresh or frozen. Expand your stock of local food products and include vegetables, fruits, meats, seafood, condiments, breads, and more!
If you do some shopping planning along with your meal planning in advance, you may be able to plan your local purchases to become a substantial part of your diet.
Customize Your Purchase
When you shop for specialized purchases, small businesses can provide amazing gifts for you or your loved ones.
Custom products that can be produced especially for you are perks when shopping with small businesses.
Create some of the most memorable gifts for business or personal giving when you shop small business. Some of our favorite products are custom drams, personalized products, made-to-suit accessories, and more!
When you buy custom made products you are usually supporting small businesses. Sometimes you may be supporting both small and larger businesses by taking prepared products and then customizing them. Some businesses do the hard work for you and offer a range of customized products to fulfill the wants of their audience.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
One of the greatest contributions to supporting small business and buying local is reducing your carbon footprint.
If you are not utilizing long-distance shipping then you are saving on fossil fuel emissions. You can further your carbon reduction savings by electing to eat poultry, pork, and fish and cutting out beef or lessening the amount of beef you consume.
Utilize a carbon-fighting vehicle, public transportation, bicycling, or walking to further reduce your carbon emissions. Fighting climate change is an important consideration for everyone as we enter the next decade.
Buying local and supporting small businesses is a great way to support local workers, artists, farmers and more. Reduce your carbon footprint while you enjoy wonderfully made and crafted items by shopping small businesses.
Country & Victorian Times 