Thursday, March 28, 2024

Sponsored Article: 8 Reasons to Support Local Businesses

  • August 3 2022

Small local businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy. However, many of them have struggled in the recent years because of the COVID pandemic. Over 50% of small business reported lower revenues in 2021 compared to 2019. Two-thirds of small businesses will not see their fifth birthday.

Yet, small to medium-sized local businesses contributed nearly 50% of the GDP in Canada between 2010 and 2014. They also provided employment to 10.7 million people in 2021. When local businesses are forced to close, it means loss of jobs and a lower GDP, both of which are important for a healthy economy. It is up to all of us consumers to show our support for local businesses and keep Canada’s economy strong.

If supporting a healthy Canadian economy is not enough to persuade you to buy local, here are seven more reasons from the team at Made in CA.

You can reduce your carbon footprint

There are three ways you can reduce your carbon footprint when you buy products from local shops.

  • You use your own car less. Because the shops are closer, you can leave the car at home and walk or cycle instead.

  • Many local shops sell local products. Because they have not been transported long distances, there is less damage to the environment.

  • Small producers are more likely to use environmentally friendly practices. Where large producers use fertilizers and pesticides to keep producing large quantities, smaller producers can use practices such as crop rotation, which reduces the need for chemicals.

You save time

We all know time is precious. Which would you rather do: spend time in the traffic trying to get to a supermarket or spend it at home with your family or doing your favourite activities? When you shop locally, you cut out the travel time and can use it to do something fun or productive instead.

You help create more jobs

We already know that small to medium-sized businesses employed 10.7 million people in 2021. What is equally impressive is that between 2003 and 2017, small businesses created 85% of the 1.2 million new jobs in Canada. When you frequent local shops, restaurants and other services instead of large chains, you are contributing to the creation of new jobs and an improved employment rate.

You help to create a welcoming and vibrant community

What often happens when large shopping centres open is that people flock there in pursuit of cheaper products and for the convenience of getting everything under one roof. This is likely to be detrimental to the local businesses. Out-competed by the bigger shops and restaurants, they end up closing. This leaves the high street full of closed up premises, which over time gives it a rundown, depressing look.

When you buy locally, you help to keep the high street vibrant and inviting for both locals and visitors. With a variety of local services available, it will be a place where people enjoy spending their time.

You support the upkeep of local services such as schools, parks and health services

When you buy from local businesses, on average 70% of the money you spend will stay in the local community.

That money is used to improve local facilities. It is money for schools, for maintaining parks and other public spaces, improving public transportation systems, maintaining roads and providing better local health care.

You can find unique products

When you buy products from international companies, you are getting something that is bought by who knows how many millions of other people. Local stores and boutiques often sell products made by local designers and artists so you can find unique items.

Same applies to restaurants. You can walk into any Pizza Pizza or Tim Hortons and know exactly what you are getting. With local restaurants, you can find new favourites from menus specific to each restaurant.

You can get more information about what you are getting

For a conscious consumer, where the products came from and how they were produced is important. When you use local businesses, they are more likely to know more about the makers and producers. You can shop with clear conscience when you know the people who made the products are getting a fair wage or the chickens who laid the eggs have a happy life outdoors.

Conclusion

When we buy from local shops and services, it has far-reaching benefits. We are not only benefiting ourselves, the local businesses and the local community, but it also has a positive impact on the whole country’s economy.

Small to medium-sized local businesses provide more jobs than large chains in Canada, they create the majority of new jobs, and they contribute to the well-being of local communities. Therefore we should spend more of our money buying local.

This was a sponsored article from Made in CA