How to be a Small Business Supporter

Can call yourself a local type & shop big business?

These days everrrrybody wants to be local­ — or market themselves as such. Geico Insurance has signs in my town that say they’re local, but what does it really mean? It means they’ve got an office in town. That’s about it.

But there’s another, bigger tension I’m starting to sense, too. It’s an all-or-nothing mentality that’s a bit overwhelming. Actually, I think it’s more than tension. It’s a lie, and I’m calling it out.

The Lie: You cannot shop big business AND be a small business supporter.

Imagine — what if everyone bought from a small business ONCE a week!? How much better would that be than a few handfuls of people who were so radically local they never stepped foot in a Target or Costco, never placed an order on Amazon?

We’ve become so stubborn in our thinking, and this extreme way of reasoning doesn't help small businesses thrive.

Because the more people who consider themselves local types, who feel included in this community, the more people who will consider it worth their time and money to invest in the small businesses around them.

The more you identify with big brands and embrace being “basic” the less likely you are to choose to a patron of small businesses.

The way we talk about supporting small businesses needs to shift. We need to think of people who shop small once a week, every other week or even once a month as Local Types.

We need to encourage shopping small, not make shopping small an activity for the elite.

The Truth: To be a small business supporter (the local type, if you will) all you must do is be intentional about choosing local businesses frequently.

So, let’s talk this through.

• Can you be the Local Type if you're married to a Costco lover? Yep, I am.

• Can you be the Local Type if you occasionally order a book on Amazon? Yes, some books are only available on Amazon.

• Can you be the Local Type if all your jeans are from Madewell? Sure.

• Can you be the Local Type if you only visit your local farmer's market once a year for ice cream?

• Can you be the Local Type if you have a Yankee Candle on your mantel?

• Can you be the Local Type if you live in the furniture capital of the world, but you furnished your apartment at Ikea?

I could go on and on here. In fact, I have in the form of social media graphics, which you might see popping up on Instagram soon.

The bottom line is the more you choose small businesses, the more your community will grow and cultivate a one-of-a-kind personality.

If you’re considering more ways to support local businesses, consider where you spend your money when shopping for the following items:

• Clothing

• Baked Goods

• Entertainment

• Plants

• Furniture

• Home décor

• Coffee

• Books

• Groceries

• Candles

• Gifts

• Stationery

• Art

Okay, I want to hear from you! This has been a thinker of a blog post. So, what are your thoughts on the subject? Do you feel this tension? What are your favorite things to buy locally?

There’s a comment box below you can use to chat with me OR you can find me on Instagram to chat there. Whatever you choose, I’d love to hear your thoughts as a small business owner or an involved community member.