Even though I am a co-owner of the CAVATA brand, I still rock tees, hoodies and accessories from a variety of different companies. Before I learned about the indie apparel industry and the different techniques of screen and DTG printing, I did what everyone else did…I shopped at the mall. I’m not writing this blog to tell everyone to stop shopping at the mall. In fact, I admit that I like lots of brands that are stocked in malls. What I am suggesting is that people take a minute to research smaller independent brands to see what else the fashion world has to offer and to understand how shopping at small businesses affects the local economy. I recently found an article “Top Ten reasons to Think Local – Buy Local – Be Local” that does a great job of summing up my thoughts on this topic.
Buy Local — Support yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms — continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community.
Support community groups: Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses. (CAVATA donates 10% of every purchase to fund music and art programs.)
Keep our community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun — all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. Our tourism businesses also benefit. When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.
Put your taxes to good use: Local businesses in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.
Reduce environmental impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.
Create more good jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in our community, provide the most jobs to residents.
Get better service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers.
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 future.
Buy what you want, not what someone wants you to buy: A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.
Encourage local prosperity: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.
