Spotlight on Shopping Local

We live in an age of convenience, online shopping is easy, fast and more affordable than ever; but is it actually better? Local one-of-a kind businesses are what make our region so amazing, vibrant and interesting. Shopping local has always been important, but with todays online giants, shopping local is taking a hit.

Almost three-quarters of Canadian companies have less than ten employees and small and micro businesses employ nearly 8 million people, accounting for approximately 70% of the private sector workforce in Canada. That’s a lot of jobs created – plus when you choose to shop local you are on the receiving end of services personalized for the communities we live in. Small businesses are full of unique products, owners offer immense knowledge on the merchandise they stock – they work extra hard to be good at what they do. Think about how great it feels when your local barista remembers your order – being a regular at a small business does have its perks.

Supporting your neighbours and community members allows them to provide for their families and fosters a lasting collective connection. Those local dollars are recycled back into your community in the form of kids sports sponsorships, community infrastructure and charities that directly support residents. Your spending at a small business means about .66 cents of each dollar stays local – whereas when you buy from a multinational retailer or ‘Big Box Store’ only .11 cents stays in the community. Small local businesses face massive challenges when competing with multinational retailers who are able to slash prices and provide products to you ‘cheeper’ – unfortunately we are seeing trends where consumers are undervaluing the significant economic benefits of shopping locally.

We also have to keep in mind the toll COVID took on small business; while big chains boomed with online orders, small businesses were closing their doors. Online giants delivered door to door while many small businesses struggled with the time and know-how to create an immediate online presence that would compete with bigger companies.

There are approximately 1.3 million businesses right now here in Canada and 99.8% (1.29 million) of them are small businesses. Employment statistics published findings that in 2024 small and micro businesses also made up over half of the employers in Canada. Which means your locally spent dollars have an immediate affect on those living and working in your cities and towns.

So – even if it’s a small shift this season, moving some of your budget over to spend specifically at a local small business will make a big impact for the residents and business owners in your community. As they say –

‘Every time you buy from a small business an actual person does a little happy dance.’

So this gift giving season remember, giving a gift from a small business is giving a gift twice.

Sources: Clearly Payments, CFIB, Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada, Statistics Canada, Made In CA