No matter how big or small the town you live in may be, everybody in the community benefits when you do business locally. From the intrinsic character of the place to the way people interact, supporting local businesses just makes sense.

To better illustrate the benefits that small businesses bring to the table, here are five ways that demonstrate how going local makes a difference:

1.     Unique identity

Every town, every city you visit in the world – each one has a particular thing that makes it unique. From the storefronts to the types of shops that populate the main street, local businesses are the beating heart that feeds the population with energy. For many places, that character attracts visitors, new companies, and people looking for the perfect place to put down roots. As the community grows, it becomes stronger, and everybody thrives.

2.     Creating opportunity

When you support local businesses, you are keeping community resources at home and creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs, new business ventures, and young people just entering the workforce. The more options there are, the more likely it is that the brightest and most talented people will stay and channel their energy right back into the local economy.

3.     Competition breeds innovation

The more shops, services, and businesses there are in the local economy, the more competitive the business climate will be. Companies need to stand out from the rest and will go the extra mile to please their customers – who can then reap the benefits of new ideas, better services, diverse product offerings, and a healthy, vibrant, cooperative community spirit.

4.     Environmental advantages

Choosing to do business locally reduces our carbon footprint in a big way. For instance, choosing to shop at a local store instead of ordering online means fewer delivery trucks on the road, and so less fuel burned. It means fewer freight trains on the rails and therefore fewer derailments. With fewer ships on the ocean, our marine life will not be as endangered, and fewer cargo planes in the air mean fewer delays at the airport, and less air and noise pollution in general.

5.     Keep those tax dollars at home

When we choose to do business locally, our tax dollars stay in the community, strengthening the economy and helping to support infrastructure and other critical initiatives. In most cities and towns, about ten percent of all sales taxes collected go directly back into public coffers. They fund essential public services like transit, roadways, bike lanes, parks, schools, and so much more – the very things that make your town such a wonderful place to live.

Every community is a living, breathing entity unto itself, and like any living thing, it needs sustenance to grow and thrive. At Lakeside Executive Suites, we are committed to strengthening our local economy and supporting the small businesses that make Weston such a great place to live. Drop by today and discover how we can help.