The corner shop with its familiar and friendly service, the local pub and other small businesses create an atmosphere you are likely to enjoy. Small businesses are what make communities unique. They help distinguish your neighbourhood from the surrounding locations.

Up to 90% of jobs are created by small business owners. Does the data sound surprising? It shouldn’t. Local businesses play a vital role in job creation, with millions of positions having been filled since 2003.

Small businesses do not require a lot of investment in infrastructure or transportation. You can let your car rest and breathe in the energy of green space. A lack of big shopping or business centres means also there will be more space for playgrounds and other sports facilities for children.

Small businesses contribute to local charities. They are more likely to invest and help grow the local economy because they are usually attached to the place of their operations. After all, investing in the community means that it gives back. Logically, people that feel taken care of are more likely to return to a local shop.

The money spent is the money left in the community. Small businesses lead to an increase in salaries and the creation of public infrastructure. In a long‑term perspective, the benefits of having a large number of small local businesses far outweigh any drawbacks.

You’d think that big retail chains are the ones that offer choice. It’s local businesses that rely on the needs of their community instead of national sale plans. They can guarantee products that might be unavailable in other locations. Furthermore, the distinctive local taste is what might bring in entrepreneurs, who are willing to invest and settle in small communities.

A more narrow perspective might be one of the biggest arguments “for” shopping locally. By buying from people in your community, you put money directly into the pockets of your neighbours. They are the very same people who live just next door and who you’ve come to know as individuals and not merely service providers.

Many people believe that buying from large retail chains, especially in bulk, is much cheaper than buying locally. It might be true, to some extent, but in retail chains, you often pay for the brand while in corner shops, you pay for the product. It’s especially true when it comes to all of the foods labelled “fresh” and “organic” which have sizable mark‑ups in big shops.

With all the information available on small local businesses, it seems only fair to argue that they’re not only an integral part of our reality but also the best hope for the future. Reduced environmental impacts, boosting the economy, and creating jobs are only a few of the upsides. Hopefully, we’ll only see more positive changes as we go forward.

According to the 2021 survey, 70% of Americans shop locally. Analyse the graph and think whether you shop locally for the same reasons.