With the end of the black friday shopping season, it may be a good idea to try and shop small as opposed to shopping big at your favorite large big box stores. Small and local businesses deserve just as much business as the big box stores do. Not only is shopping at your smaller, family owned businesses great for the economy, but it is also great to explore other shopping options, as well as leaving a good impact on your community.

According to the U.S Chamber of Commerce, small businesses, not large businesses, makeup close to half of the American workforce and manage to show a 43.5 percent of America’s GDP. Small businesses are very important and valued within our economic system and big businesses and small businesses tend to work together quite often.

Money spent at these community owned businesses are not only great for the economy, but are also great because the money stays within the community. The money can also circulate throughout other local services and businesses as well.

These small businesses can strengthen the community and bring people together much more than what a typical corporate big box store could ever do. Small businesses aim to please the community members much more than just having the sole purpose of making a profit at the end of the day. When people in a community choose to shop at locally owned businesses, they strengthen their community, strengthen the identity of their community, and contribute to the community’s finances so they can continue to grow and thrive. 

Much can be said about shopping at locally owned shops within a community. Shopping at small locally owned benefits can help everybody and it is overall a win-win for everyone.