We believe that to have a strong local economy, we need to support local. These small businesses creative a diverse city that we can be proud of in many ways. This blog is the starting point for a larger support local initiative that we are working on.

Here are 10 reasons why you should support local in Guelph:

Create local prosperity

Although spending money to buy a fridge at Home Depot may not be much to them, it’s a lot for a local business. If even a fraction of this business went to support local businesses, we’d have a very healthy local economy.

Communities that preserve their unique local businesses and distinctive character have an economic advantage. Further, it extends beyond monetary benefit to personal relationships!

Create a stronger community

Increasingly as Guelph real estate agents, we’re seeing that clients want to be in a tight knit community to raise their family. This is the same of small business. Locally owned businesses build strong communities by sustaining vibrant town centers, linking neighbors in a web of economic and social relationships, and contributing to local causes.

Local Decision Making

Local ownership ensures that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions.

For many years, Ryan worked in the corporate world. Often times, decisions were made in Ontario for other markets in Canada. Some of which the decision maker has never even been to!

Keeping Dollars in the Local Economy

Compared to chain stores, locally owned businesses recycle a much larger share of their revenue back into the local economy, enriching the whole community.

When you choose things to do in Guelph, you’re helping not only the business. You’re helping the staff pay a mortgage or rent and for them to be able to put money into the economy themselves.

Local Job and Wages

Locally owned businesses create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits than chains do. When you support local, you’re actually supporting your neighbours prosperity.

This is also important for franchised businesses, including such businesses as Earth to Table Bread Bar. They are one of the more popular Guelph restaurants but have 4 locations. They employee many Guelph staff and offer stable jobs.

Support local through increased entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship fuels Guelph’s economic innovation and makes you more appealing to a younger demographic. Examples of entrepreneurship in a community can draw people in as they try to meet their goals. Whether it’s to start a business idea or create financial freedom, entrepreneurship in a community holds a lot of benefit.

The public benefits and costs when you support local

Local, smaller stores require less infrastructure and make more efficient use of public services relative to big box stores. A good example of this would be a bakery like Eric the Baker in downtown Guelph.

Environmental Sustainability

Local stores help to sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centers- which in turn are essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss, and air and water pollution.

Mega shopping centres often require you to drive there and back and are often not very walkable either to or from the store.

Better competition and variety when you support local

Many small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term versus a few larger chains that control price.

When you support local, smaller shops often provide more variety and more unique offerings that a big box store. Even though there may be 5 or 6 selling used cars in Guelph, each has their own inventory and niche and can compete with each other with minimal impact. This leads to our last point

Product Diversity

Small businesses order products based on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, not a dictated national business plan. This guarantees a much broader range of product choices and offerings (that may not be available in big box stores!)