Why Shop Local – Buy Local?
As I travel around the province I run across Buy Local campaigns in almost every place I visit. I mentioned it to John Espley, aka Mountain Man, at Accent Inns and asked him what he thought. He said that Accent Inns is a huge supporter, and member, of many shop local organizations and it’s one of the reasons his company is active in Chambers of Commerce throughout the province, especially in Victoria, Burnaby, Richmond, Kamloops and Kelowna where they have hotels.
This made me want to dig a little deeper and my research showed a definite trend toward buying local across Canada. One survey stated that 72 per cent of Canadians have a desire to support 
local businesses. Global retail strategy and analytics firm Precima, carried out a survey which showed that 61 per cent of Canadians said purchasing local foods and beverages was important to them, with nearly half reporting they would be willing to pay a 15-30 per cent premium.
So, I got to thinking why should we buy local? And what are the real benefits? For a start, locally owned and operated business:
- Keep money in the local economy – for every $100 spent at a local store, $46 is recirculated into the local economy.
- Recirculate 2.6 times more revenue back into the local economy than national retail chains.
- Are more likely to support other local businesses – e.g. bookkeepers, accountants, law firms, tradespeople.
- Purchase more local products and goods, which provides employment for local artisans, farmers and other manufacturers.
- Bring fewer products in from outside the region resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions.
- Give five times more money to local sports teams, community events and charitable causes than non-local businesses.
Where we shop, where we eat and have fun – all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of a community. Our tourism businesses also benefit. “When people go on
vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” ~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust.
So, thanks Accent Inns for supporting local businesses in all the towns and cities where you have locations – it’s much appreciated!