Why Choose Local
“When needs are met locally by locally owned enterprises, people have greater control over their lives, money is recycled in the community rather than leaking off into the global financial casino, jobs are more secure, economies are more stable, and there are the means and the incentives to protect the environment and to build the relationships of mutual trust and responsibility that are the foundation of a community.”
Here are just some of the reasons to choose local…
Significantly more money re-circulates in Toledo when purchases are made at locally owned, rather than nationally owned, businesses
A study commissioned by the Andersonville (Chicago) Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce in October 2004 found that for every $100 spent at locally owned businesses, $68 stays in the local economy. For every $100 spent at non-local businesses, only $43 stays in the local economy. More money is kept in the community because locally owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms.
Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of our distinctive culture
Big box retailers and strip malls have replaced traditional locally owned shops (and continue to do so!), making Toledo look more like Anytown, USA, not the unique community it really is. The unique character of Toledo is what brought us here and will keep us here. Our tourism rate can also increase because of local, independently owned businesses.
“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
Non-profits receive greater support
Non-profit organizations receive an average 350% greater support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses.
Reduced 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.
Most new jobs are provided by local businesses
Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally. The 200 largest corporations in the world employ less than 1% of the global workforce although they account for about 30% of global economic activity.
Customer service is better
Local businesses often hire people with more specific product expertise for better customer service. Plus, independent business people genuinely love what they do, and have the ability to go above and beyond to make sure you are a satisfied customer. This also
Local business owners 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.
Public benefits far outweigh public costs
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.
Competition and diversity leads to more choices
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.
Encourages investment in Toledo
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.