At Chiltern Biz Collective we want you to source local, buy local, eat local, enjoy local, spend local, support local, love local and shop local!
There’s so many reasons to for this; here are our top 5:
- Invest in the local economy – 63p of every £1 spent with a small business stays in the local economy
- Personality and originality – local independent business owners add their own personality, creativity and passion to their businesses. This leads to them offering original, thoughtful goods & services.
- Reduce your carbon footprint – shopping locally means your goods don’t need to travel far!
- Human Connection – when shopping locally you get to know the person behind the business. Building a relationship with them which also leads to amazing & personal customer service!
- Supporting a dream – business ownership is not for the faint-hearted and by shopping local you are helping someone’s dream become reality.
How To Support Your Favourite Local Businesses
I’m sure you already have your favourite local businesses, even when you aren’t buying something from them you can still show them your love & support.
Leave Them a Review – reviews mean everything to small business owners (we don’t have an appraisal with our boss to tell us we’re doing a good job!). Some businesses may have a facility on their website to leave a review, or you can leave a ‘Google Review’. Or if you’re not sure how email them your testimonial direct.
Engage with Their Social Media – like & comment on their content. This really helps tell the social media algorithms that their content is worth looking at, but also the person behind the content would love to engage & interact with you!
Tell Your Friends – shout about your favourites! Tell your friends about what a great service or product you’ve had, recommend local business when asked.
Discover New Local Businesses
When you start to look for it you may be surprised at how many amazing and unique businesses are right on your doorstep!
- Head to your local high street, pop in those shops or cafes you haven’t tried before – you may just find your new favourite!
- Ask friends – if you’re looking to spend money on anything then ask friends for local recommendations
- Search local publications and websites – take a look through those leaflets that come through your door, look at noticeboards and search on local directories online (like our one!)
Please remember that shopping local isn’t just about heading to your local high street. It’s who you choose for your hair cut, fitness class, financial advice, kids tutoring, baby classes, business support, and a whole lot more.