RelyLocal

A healthy community depends on a healthy economy, and both completely depend on the local businesses in Collierville, Cordova, & Germantown! There are a number of great studies out there that illustrate how shopping locally will stimulate the our economy.

Simply put, more money spent with local businesses stays here (about 68%), where much less money spent with national chains stays in the area (only about 14%), and money spent online... well... simply leaves. Forever.

To us, supporting local businesses doesn't stop with the economy - It is all about creating a stable and vibrant community! Collierville, Cordova, & Germantown businesses create jobs (tax revenue for schools, parks, roads) while offering diversity in the marketplace, with unique products and services not found in big-box stores or chain restaurants. Not to mention - these local business are owned by the very people who sponsor our little leagues, donate to our local charities, and volunteer for our community events - giving back to the community in countless ways. You rely on them, but can they rely on you?

Here are our Top Ten Reason's to RelyLocal and some things to
think about as you plan your errands this week. A small change of 1 or 2 or 3 choices to check out a 'local' business can make a big difference in many ways.

1. Local Character and Prosperity

In an increasingly homogenized world, communities that preserve their
one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character have an economic advantage.

2. Community Well-Being

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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Job and Wages

Locally owned businesses create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits than chains do.

6. Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship fuels America’s economic innovation and prosperity, and serves as a key means for families to move out of low-wage jobs and into the middle class.

7. Public Benefits and Costs

Local stores in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure and
make more efficient use of public services relative to big box stores and strip shopping malls.

8. 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.

9. Competition

A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to
ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.

10. Product Diversity

A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based, not on a
national sales plan, but on their own interests and the needs of their local
customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

Buy Local Campaign Makes a Difference

Independent locally owned business fare better when supported by 'Buy Local' Campaigns. Together we can make a difference. The following survey gathered data from 2,768 independent, locally owned businesses during an 8-day period in January 2011. The respondents were located in all 50 states ~ Institute forLocal Self Reliance

From RelyLocal National Blog: http://content.relylocal.com/blog/top-ten-reasons-to-relylocal/