Shopping Small Businesses: Dos and Don'ts

Shopping at small businesses is one of the greatest ways to invest in your community and support local artists, and the holidays are a really important time of year for a lot of local businesses. Here are some ways to maximize your impact and get the most out of your purchases:

❌Don’t ask for a refund or return. Small businesses operate on very small profit margins, and refund policies protect business owners from people not following through on their commitments. Cancellations, refunds, and returns are costly for businesses that rely on every sale.

✅Do regift or donate items from small businesses that you aren’t in love with.  If you purchased services that you know you won’t use, like a series of massages or Pilates classes, ask the business if you can transfer them to a friend.

❌Don’t keep great businesses a secret! Word of mouth and testimonials are absolutely essential for small businesses, many of whom just don’t have the budget to pay for advertising. If you had a good experience or loved a product, tell everyone!

✅Do share posts from your favorite businesses on social media, bring your friends and family to your favorite shops, and purchase goods, services, and gift cards for holidays and birthdays.

❌Don’t see if you can find something cheaper on Amazon.  The prices you pay in big box stores and online are only possible because those goods are a. mass-produced, and b. workers at one (or many) points along the supply chain are being exploited.  If you’re just looking to save a buck or two, you are effectively telling artists that their skills are not valued or important, and that people don’t deserve fair wages for their labor.

✅Do value the time and skill your local artisans put into their wares.  Handcrafted art and other goods take time and effort, and are made with love and intention.  Know that when you buy something from a local business or artist, even if it costs a little more, the impact of your purchase goes SO much farther than if you’d bought a similar item from Target or Amazon.

❌Don’t leave negative Google reviews.  Bad reviews do a disproportionate amount of harm to small businesses, and most bad reviews are unwarranted and are people simply looking for an audience for their overly dramatic complaints.  If you experience an issue and you actually think it’s enough of a problem that you want the business to know about it, give them a call or send them an email.  I promise you, small business owners care deeply about their reputation and go into business because they want to have a positive impact in their communities.  If you let the know something wasn’t right, they’ll do whatever they can to fix it!

✅Do leave good reviews for your favorite places! If you go to the same coffee spot regularly or found a restaurant your whole family loves, leave them a great review. Too often, people are quick to complain but slow to praise. Your positive words mean SO much to business owners, most of whom go into business to connect with their communities and to be of service. Let them know that you appreciate them!

Shop small, shop local, and support your community as often as possible!