The government continues to focus on American-made products being produced and purchased to support the American economy. This is a good thing! Over the past decade, we have also seen a call for consumers to spend their dollars at local businesses whenever possible. The question bears discussion: Does buying local help the community as a whole? Personally speaking, I try hard to buy local first, then Made in USA. If that is not available, possibly fair trade from another country. And sometimes, I simply do without.

It goes without saying that COVID-19 has changed us all in one way or another. We are not behaving the same way as before the virus. One change that stands out to me, besides greater appreciation and love for family and friends, is how we shop for products.

When consumers are empowered to purchase goods and services from national chains or locally owned businesses multiple factors come in to play: Your financial situation and cost of goods, convenience, availability and variety all play a role in our decision. We hear that the benefits to buying local and keeping the money circulating in a specific area/ demographic helps strengthen that local economy. Data supports that: When we buy locally, slightly more than 50% of the retailer’s revenue stays within the local sectors creating stronger local supply chains. These businesses tend to bank, hire and buy local which helps ensure that statistic.

The number is only 14% for national chain retailers. Money circulating through the local economy benefits everyone who is a part of each transaction. For example, let’s look at a farmer local to me, On Cape. They plant half an acre. They sell wholesale to restaurants, have a CSA, sell plants in the spring and do flowers for local events including the opening of a store that sells the wares made by Cape Cod artisans. They bank and get loans locally to make improvements. They buy soil amendments, greenhouse supplies, building materials and tools all from a local businesses. They regularly buy takeout for dinner because they are too tired to cook, get massages so they can function, haircuts (finally) and buying local meats and eggs from farmer friends. And so forth.

This all takes a different mindset as well as extra time finding what you need. Once you have it down it really does become second nature — and there is a whole lot less cardboard around as well.

Do you make an effort to support local small businesses? Or do you prefer to shop based on other criteria such as price, availability, and quality no matter where the products are made or sold? Please be honest; we appreciate your thoughts, circumstances and input. There is no judging from our end.

Live well.

Support local? Or buy national?

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