I'm with you 100% Robin! From the small independent hardware stores and bakeries to the pharmacies and the paint store. They are the ones who contribute to the school fund raisers and sponsor the kid's sports teams. You don't get theat from Home Depot.
My business goes there first. It may be a little more expensive but it helps the community and that in turn helps us.

Love the post. There are so many upsides to shopping at local businesses. Strictly shopping by price is one reason so many jobs have left the US. I think we have to be willing to support our fellow local citizens, you know?

It's more than the customer service though – it's the customer experience. Shopping at large corporate stores is always a dry, impersonal thing. We discovered a smallish locally owned hardware store and went in for the first time one day last week. Inside was the most well behaved bulldog you'll ever meet. She gave us a sniff and instantly decided we were part of her pack. The store had everything we wanted hardware-wise, AND we discovered a huge variety of locally produced crop seeds for sale. You don't experience things like this at Home Depot.

There is absolutely a sense of real contribution when spending on local businesses. I recently switched all my coffee buying from Starbucks and Tim Hortons (the gourmet and budget options, respectively) to a middle of the road, local franchise. All three are in the same mall, where I work, but there's a real difference in the experience, and it helps that the coffee is better as well!

Right on!

Hmmm… I'm surprised that you paid more at Ace. Having worked in the hardware business I know they are VERY sensitive to being price competitive with the Big Boxes. I guess my point is that buying local doesn't automatically mean higher prices.

I am a huge fan and promoter of local shopping. Living in a small town, people think it’s weird that I would rather search the local stores instead of hopping in the car to head to the city. I’ve heard “Oh I could never do that because there is not enough selection.” But I know that any of the stores I frequent will happily special order things if they don’t have what I am looking for and they will bring in products if they know there is a market. I will shop at Walmart if it’s the only choice. At least it’s in town and although it a smaller percentage that stays in town (last I read chain stores contribute about 17% of every dollar back in the community and local stores range between 40 and 50 cents on the dollar) at least some of it stays local, unlike when someone chooses to buy outside of the community.

I wish this was the case in our neighborhood. We had a really great coffee shop down the street that was locally owned and then Panera moved in. Within 6 months, the coffee shop was closed. :(

Awesome! So just like I'm willing to spend a bit more – you're willing to drive a little further.

Exactly! I like being remembered – everyone does! It's hard to part with money, make it easier on me and treat me like a customer!

Absolutely support local business, with exceptions. They have to treat me as a customer, with the same courtesy I'd expect from any business. Good example, a local Apple Computer store manager refused to answer my technical questions a couple of years ago. Nothing uncommon, simply “things have changed since I bought one of these, how does the HD fit in…?”
I left, knowing I would not buy anything from them. Love local business, but they gotta love back.

Local business is the way to go. I, like you, had previously loved Wal-Mart because it was convenient and cheap. But once I started my own small business, I realized it's not the wal-mart's of the world that I can relate to, but the small local business owners. Shop Local.

You go Goyle! As you noted, they are our neighbors, they also hire our neighbors, support our local organizations, sponsor out little leagues, etc. It is said that home is where the heart is, it should also be where our wallets are.
In terms of service, the opportunity for relationship building only occurs with a local biz, resulting in your quest for profound customer service.
Great read, many thanks, Mike

I enjoyed this post very much. Am currently working with the hometown program in our community. The 3/50 project touches on this as well, showing how much of your locally spent dollars stays in the community.

I loved the post. I am a small business owner and my bread and butter comes from locals who use my service. Thanks for supporting local businesses in your area.

Excellent article! I take supporting local biz very seriously too. I actually began using FourSquare for that very reason – so I could give the locally owned places I frequent regular shout outs.

Local businesses also get to know you and what you like and buy, and can make recommendations based on who you and what interactions you've had with them. And if they are your friends and neighbors they may also take part in other aspects of your life, interacting on local boards, seeing your kids in local neighborhoods and so on.

This is one of the reasons I love tweetups so much!