BAJAN SUN
Bajan Sun Magazine
JUN 2014
THINK LOCAL
FIRST
WHY BUY LOCALLY OWNED
There are many well-documented benefits to our
communities and to each of us to choosing local,
independently owned businesses. We realize it is not
always possible to buy what you need locally and so
merely ask you to Think Local FIRST!
Top Ten reasons to Think Local – Buy Local – Be Local
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.
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.” ~ Richard Moe, President,
National Historic Preservation Trust
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.
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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.
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.
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 oneof-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.
Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a
local!
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