Christmas 2021 is just around the corner, many of us are starting our festive shopping early, or are at least beginning to contemplate the gifts we want to share with the most important people in our lives.
Although large shops and online sites make the shopping experience as easy as possible, there are so many more benefits to choosing to shop at small businesses this year. From incredible customer service to supporting your local economy, discover 5 reasons to shop small below.
1. That feel good feeling...
When you shop small, you get that feel-good feeling you just don’t get from shopping in big chains. You know you’re supporting your local businesses who are making more ethical decisions and have their customers needs at heart.
By regularly shopping with small businesses you are also building a relationship with owners that is irreplaceable in a larger shop. Your social interactions, whether offline or online, extend further beyond just a customer, allowing for a much more positive and personal shopping experience.
2. Support your community
The meaning of community has changed slightly in recent years, it’s not only the local stores around you, but it can also mean products designed, produced, and sold in your home country rather than through large supply chains overseas.
Shopping small is big for the community. It helps to create local jobs, 48% of England’s employees work in small businesses, each purchase you make supporting their ability to hire a new employee, bolstering the UK’s economy even further. Supporting small helps your pounds stay with these small businesses, rather than being fed into large corporations, and you support families who pay their worker’s fair wages.
3. Discover unique gifts
Choose to bypass the mass-produced candles and bath sets this year, which will often end up in the back of a cupboard somewhere, instead impress your friends and family with a one-of-a-kind gift with a feel-good business behind it.
These small business owners can often create bespoke pieces just for you, whether that be a candle with the perfect scent, a self-care box filled with your favourite products, or a unique piece of jewellery – you can definitely guarantee no one else will have bought the same.
4. Customer service
Small businesses do what they do because they are passionate about their products or service, they often take the time to get to know their customers more, and will go the extra mile to ensure you’re a highly satisfied customer.
These business owners often fill every role in their company, including the customer service, which means, without the layers of corporate policy, they are able to understand every customer’s unique needs and know more about the products.
5. The ethical choice
Whilst the big chains will often win on low pricing, it’s hard to ignore the countless reports of unethical working conditions, unfair wages, and the effects on climate change. Shopping small means you often know exactly where your product comes from with transparency in the ingredients, materials, source, and manufacturing of the products you buy.
These entrepreneurs put time and effort into ethically sourcing, producing, and manufacturing their products, often choosing charities and causes they want to support, donating a percentage of your hard-earned pay cheque to those in need.
💚 Read more about our brands and mission here.
✨ Shop our selection of ethically made self-care essentials from small UK businesses and independent makers.