Why Supporting
Local is Important
Use it or lose it.
Our local economy has been hit hard during the COVID pandemic and sadly like the rest of the UK remains in a fragile state.
As you will have seen throughout the course of the last year, the pandemic has also taken its toll on some of your favourite high street retailers, including independent businesses who rely heavily on customer footfall and passing trade.
Now more than ever we need to work with retailers and businesses to support your local high streets, especially over the coming months, in a safe and secure way. Otherwise, this time next year, they may no longer be around.
Together we need to remind people that when they pop into their favourite boutique, cafe or deli, they are not only contributing to that retailer’s turnover but also to the local economy and community.
Shopping locally also has a huge impact on other community assets, such as it stimulating reinvestment in:
- Local schools
- NHS services
Creating real jobs and shopping local helps increase the value of residential properties in and around town centres which are thriving.
Now as lockdown restrictions begin to ease, we should encourage people to begin to rediscover the hidden gems in our local highstreets that they’ve not been able to access for a long time.
Why not set aside some time to research what’s in your local area, anything new, anything different, anything you never knew you needed?!
As fast and convenient as it is to do all your shopping online, owned by large corporations and retailers , why not check out a local retailer’s website or social media page to see if they can offer something unique and have any special offers on by contacting them directly. Doing this will make a huge difference to them surviving this year into the next.
Aside from purchasing more online, there have been other changes in how we all shop as a result COVID.
Given we were unable to travel out of our local areas and there was a general reluctance or a need to stay away from supermarkets , it’s safe to say our local high streets kept us going.
One positive which can be taken from the last year is that the experience has made us all the more appreciative for the little things and help us reconnect with our local communities, for example we saw the return of milkmen to certain areas of the country!
And if you are still not convinced of the importance of shopping local, here are some statistics found by American Express:
- Supporting local supply chains who support a wealth of other industries. These include professional services to cleaning and suppliers, having a knock on effect on the wider economy.
- Independent retailers are more flexible and can adapt to local needs
- Research on spending by local authorities shows that for every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business 63p stayed in the local economy, compared to 40p with a larger business.
Lastly, high streets populated with thriving independent businesses boost the prices of nearby homes by £40,000.
So, why is supporting local important? Well in doing so you are firstly supporting livelihoods and dreams, and secondly you’re helping to keep your local community and home thriving.
