Why Shop Local
What do local businesses do for you and your community?
Local business owners are committed to the success of Ypsilanti. They understand and embrace the interests and values of our community. These neighborhood businesses and service providers care about you as an individual, and tailor their business to fit the needs of our city. They also benefit Ypsilanti by creating employment opportunities.
Neighborhood businesses improve life in Ypsilanti through sponsorship of events such as the Heritage Festival, the summer concert series on Washington Street, city beautification projects and much more.
What does shopping local do for your community?
Let’s do a little math. (Don’t worry, there’s no pop quiz involved.)
According to the year 2000 census, the number of city residents over the age of 20 was 14,227. If each of these residents moved just $25 more of his or her shopping budget to Ypsi based businesses this season, those businesses would have more than $355,000.00 in increased gross income. Best of all, that $355,000.00 is from money you were going to spend anyway!
Twenty-five dollars isn’t very much; it’s a couple of t-shirts, a few gifty items, maybe a nice dinner. Though it isn’t very much, that $25 can have a huge impact on the local economy. It’s not about spending more, it’s about spending differently.
For each dollar you spend at a local business, about twenty to forty cents more of your dollar sticks around helping the local economy. At 25 cents on the dollar, that $25 we all spent locally translates into over 88,750 more dollars staying in the area than if you spent them at a chain or on-line.
What does shopping local do for you?
There’s power in shopping locally owned businesses. Those dollars have a greater impact on selection and service than when spent at chains or on-line retailers. You aren’t seen as a “margin of error” at some company’s quarterly review. When shopping at local businesses you’re seen as a person not as a statistic.
Shopping at local businesses creates more local jobs than shopping at major chain or on-line companies. Local businesses not only pay their employees, they also spend money at other local businesses. That means more local jobs for delivery people, sales associates, accountants, cooks, marketing specialists, printers, painters, plumbers, even window washers. By buying local, you help create more jobs for your friends and neighbors.
Don't Think You Can Find It At A Local Business? Click here for some Suggestions.