SHOP LOCAL HOLIDAY CHALLENGE
My shop local holiday challenge is a challenge for all of us this holiday season. A simple reminder to consider the small local businesses before shopping anywhere else. Local businesses are struggling and need our help this holiday season. No matter where we live it is extremely important that we as local consumers come together to support small local businesses.
SHOP LOCAL HOLIDAY CHALLENGE
My holiday shopping challenge for you is simple. It is not as much about just saving you more money as it is about mindfully supporting our struggling local businesses. This applies to both retail shopping and restaurants in your local area. It is incredibly important that you shop local businesses as we head into the upcoming new year. Consider the impact that each of you can make on a struggling small business by shopping or dining with them.
Why is it so important to shop at local businesses?
Many of us are struggling through a scary financial crisis currently. Today as I write this post many businesses around the United States are especially struggling. They are unsure if they will be able to maintain their business, meet their goals, and even continue to remain open. Larger businesses are also struggling but smaller local businesses who always struggle a bit are struggling now more than ever.
Why should you shop local businesses?
Shopping local keeps more money within your local community
Your support of small businesses helps to keep them open
Can save you money depending on when and where you shop
Valuable relationships developed between you and the local business
You are helping to provide and maintain more local jobs
How can you best support local small businesses?
Choose a local restaurant next time you go out to eat or order in
Make a habit to shop at the local stores for specific items before online shopping this year
Stop into a local store while Christmas shopping before going to any other stores to make sure you cannot purchase a gift item from the first
The struggle is real for small businesses
The struggle for businesses to remain open is going to become more and more difficult going into this next year. If we can shift our focus to becoming more mindful of local consumers then we can help to save more struggling local businesses and jobs. The struggle for all of us financially has been increasing right now. One of the best ways that you can give back to your community is by helping to keep others in your community employed this year. Before you make that purchase online this holiday season I want to challenge you to consider a small local business instead.
What local businesses I am supporting?
I live in the Toledo, Ohio area, and a few of the local businesses that I am choosing to support currently
House of Meats - a local Toledo Area meat market that carries both meat and other great items for holiday meal planning
Twice but Nice - Twice but Nice is a small second-hand store for babies and children located in Toledo, Ohio. This store has been extremely helpful for me in the first year of my daughter's life. This holiday season I am making an effort to shop here first before I go anywhere else. I want to make sure I cannot purchase the same item from this local business before buying from any larger businesses. Twice But Nice, has helped me save money but I also realize that in doing so I am also helping to support a small local business in a very difficult time.
Shop local and small this holiday season
What are some small local businesses that you can incorporate into your everyday shopping and food purchases now? Consider the small local businesses before you go anywhere else and together we can help ensure that more small local businesses still have a chance this year.