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The Shop Local Movement continues to grow in popularity as people choose to spend their money at locally owned businesses instead of big box stores.
Shopping locally greatly benefits the local economy, but it has other advantages, including saving you time and money and supporting green sustainability. According to a Mint Intuit report, 82% of people in the U.S. prioritize shopping local, with an even higher percentage of consumers shopping locally for products like produce and artisanal items.
Most consumers do this because they see the value these businesses have for the community. This includes helping small businesses grow, creating employment for thousands of residents and ensuring that money moves in the local economy.
Whether that means dining at a family-owned diner or hiring a local accountant to do your taxes, the Shop Local Movement provides the perfect opportunity for local merchants to impact their local business community. Keep reading to discover why this is the best time to join the Shop Local Movement and how you can help support local businesses for free.
Why Shop Local?
Small, locally-owned businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy. Small businesses account for 99% of businesses in the U.S. and 44% of the country's economic activity. Small businesses employ nearly 48% of the American workforce. There are numerous benefits to shopping at locally owned small businesses.
-Shopping local means supporting your community- Independent locally owned small businesses recirculate a greater percentage of their revenue back into the community compared to big box stores. For every $100 you spend at locally-owned stores or restaurants, $68 goes back into the local economy, where it helps pay for resources the community needs, like roads, parks and schools.
-Helps create demand for local jobs- Shopping local goes beyond keeping dollars in the community; it creates jobs for the local population. Local jobs also foster happier work environments, with 56% of people employed at local businesses being more committed to their jobs compared to 38.7% of those working at non-local businesses.
-The Shop Local Movement is great for the environment- Shopping at a local business means less traveling, which is great for the environment in terms of reducing our carbon footprint. On top of that, 59% of local businesses use recycled materials for products and packaging, which is another plus for mother nature.
-Helps boost local real estate value- More jobs, economic investment and thriving businesses are all signs of a desirable place to live. That's why shopping locally helps boost real estate values, attracting more investments and increasing local tax revenue.
How You Can Support Small Businesses for Free
Shopping local for your everyday needs is one of the best places to start if you are looking for ways to support local businesses. However, if you're an organization, there are many other ways to do that besides visiting a local store or restaurant. Launching a Community Card program with Yiftee is perfect way for your organization and your community to join the Shop Local Movement. Yiftee is at the forefront of local gift card programs that help keep local dollars local.
Yiftee Community Gift Cards are purchased by individuals and companies and they are perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, employee rewards, referral programs, teacher gifts, volunteer recognition and community events like local raffles and scavenger hunts. Community Cards are through multi-store and multi-restaurant that help recipients connect with local restaurants and shops.
The Community Card program is free for your organization to launch and free for your local businesses to participate. The gift cards are branded for your community and can only be used at your local businesses.
Yiftee works with over 500 Main Streets, Downtown Associations, Chambers of Commerce, City Governments and other local across the U.S. Launching a Community Card is the best and easiest way to support the small business that make your community special. Find out more about how you can Create Your Community Card and join the
