The Importance of Buying Local

According to research from Independent We Stand, "When you spend $100 at an independent business, $68 returns to the local community. Spend that same amount at a national chain and it drops to $43."

More of your purchase dollars remain within the community when spent with a locally owned business than if spent with a national business. On the surface this seems to make sense, but why is this, and why is it important?

The locally owned and operated business most likely only has the one location, only has employees at that one location that are also  members of the community, therefore dollars spent with the locally owned business ripple out into the community via property taxes, employee wages and profits, which then ripple out into the community via purchases — and on and on. The national "big box" retailer out by the freeway also pays local property taxes and local wages which ripple out into the community, but also has a large base of employees and overhead in another communities in another state, which is where a portion of your purchase as well as the profits and the ripple effects go.

Why is this important?

When your purchase dollars at a Port Washington or Saukville owned business ripples through the community, they pass through the hands of your friends and neighbors, people you see everyday, providing them with jobs and adding to the quality of life in our community. Once your dollars leave our community, the positive effects also leave to ripple through and to improve someone else’s community.