Why you should be supporting your local businesses

Over time, it has become increasingly difficult to avoid spending your hard-earned cash with big corporate companies. They offer attractive deals and are always located conveniently on your doorstep. But, when you’re presented with the choice, why should you choose to shop locally? The Kingslodge Inn, a hotel in Durham City Centre, delve into why giving your cash to smaller businesses is the way forward.

A personal touch

If you are seeking tailored customer service, you are much more likely to get this from a local business.

It’s true that for many corporate chains, they’re all decorated the same and advertise with the same promotional materials. Compare this with a local business and you’ll probably discover that the décor fits with the local aesthetic of the area and any marketing materials are tailored to the custom that they get in their own branch.

When looking at the hospitality market in local areas, these are always very personal as owners are often locals themselves. This means that they can often bring a more personalised touch to the customer service they offer and connect more with their visitors.

Localised touches provided by local business owners can meet consumer needs in a different way to corporate chains. If there is an event being held in the area, for example, it’s likely that the business will become part of it — perhaps by offering complementary products or creating an offer that fits in with the occasion.

Benefitting your local economy

Spending in your local economy directly benefits it. This is something that people tend to not think of, but it can really help your wider community. In fact, research has shown that spending just £10 with a local independent shop can equate to an additional £50 into the economy. This is because local business owners put the money back into the community through spending themselves at local services.

It’s important to support small businesses in your area, as they can bring many jobs to your city or town. The more that they can grow, the more jobs that they can offer too. Statistics showed that if 50% of the small businesses that are currently trading were able to take on one more person in the next 12 months, there would be more than two million new jobs created! As you will know, the more people that are employed in your area results in more money being pushed into the local economy and then invested in you!

More for your money

Small, local businesses have more authority to negotiate prices with you. From having a more personal relationship with a business owner and being a loyal customer, you are more likely to receive a few extra buns from your local baker or receive a good deal on meat from your butcher.

By building up a relationship with your local shop owners, they can let you know of any upcoming offers or recommend products and services for you based on what you usually buy. It’s unlikely that you’d get this sort of repertoire with a national chain company.

Being green

When shopping with a local business it is more than likely that their produce is produced locally as well. Meaning that is hasn’t travelled miles and miles. Corporate companies often own a few farms or production plants around the country. As all products must be transported from here, this journey can cause a loss in nutrients too. They’re then also heavily packaged in plastics to ensure a safe transportation — different to locally sourced goods.

Phoebe Leylanis a copywriter, a content writer and web content optimiser, Ms. Leyland has built a strong foundation in writing as a graduate from the University of East Anglia, with an undergraduate BA hons in History and Politics and MA in Marketing