Shop Ipswich is all about supporting Ipswich businesses and encouraging locals and visitors to Shop in Ipswich. It is not only the businesses benefiting but shoppers benefit from cheaper, unique products provided with exceptional, friendly customer service. Ipswich has a lot to offer from Springfield to Rosewood and Shop Ipswich want to showcase the best of our great region. I have created a list of ten reason why it pays to shop local.
1. Local stores can often be the same or cheaper.
| It is often told that shopping at locally owned stores are more expensive then larger chain stores, however, this is not always the case. When you are looking for specialised part or piece of equipment there is no better place to shop then a locally owned business. You will get a high-quality product for the same or cheaper price then if you purchased it from a larger chain store. |
2. Higher standard of personalised customer service
| When you shop at a locally owned business you are guaranteed to receive a higher standard of personalised customer service then a large chain store. The more you shop at a local business the more likely they are to form a relationship with you and enhance your experience in their store. Local business owners have interesting stories and you get to know the person you are dealing with. |
3. Supporting locals
| When you shop local, you support locals. Local business owners are often the people who are in their store everyday and don’t live far, hence, they are local to your community. By shopping in locally owned businesses you are helping the business owner and their employees to support their own families who will also shop in the local community. |
4. Better quality products
| No matter if you are looking for a service or a retails store, local businesses will have a higher quality product. Locally owned clothing businesses stock a smaller range and quantity of products because they are often hand made in small batches, from quality materials. This is the same for other local businesses, because they source higher quality materials, their products are of a higher quality. |
5. When you shop local you make a personal investment in your local community
| Shopping locally is like making a personal investment in your community. The people that own and work in your locally owned stores are also a part of your community. Hence, they are also a part of the local community and the profits from their store will go back into the local community through their own spending. It’s a kind of revolving cycle that supports the local economic development when we shop local. |
6. Job Creation
| When you shop local you are supporting the growth of local businesses and the busier, they get the more staff they need. It’s not only the employees you see in store that you are creating jobs for but the people who supply products and services to the business. Shopping locally supports local job creation and ensures the economic growth circle. |
7. Local business offers unique products.
| To offer a higher standard of product local businesses offer a smaller range of unique and individualised items. In the retail sector, locally owned businesses often stock hand made items made from quality materials. Because of this, the quantity of each product is smaller and each piece will often have its own unique design. |
8. Supports local not for profits.
| Many local businesses support local not for profit organisations and charities which in turn support the local community. By shopping locally, you are helping to increase the number of local donations a business can make to a community organisation. Although larger chain stores and companies also donate to charities and not for profit organisations, they are not local, and the money goes out of your local area. If you support your local charities and not for profit organisations, then make sure you shop local. |
9. Increased product knowledge
| Locally owned business employees have a larger product knowledge of the products and services they offer. Which means, when you shop locally you are getting the best knowledge and advice on what products are best suited to your needs. Often the products stocked by locally owned businesses are hand picked by the business owner themselves. |
10. Community enhancement
| Through spending your money at local businesses, you are enhancing the community for everyone including kids and retirees. Local businesses support community groups including sports clubs and community groups. By shopping locally you are putting funds straight back into the community and supporting children, families and our older generations live happy, healthy lifestyles. |
