“Whoa, hold on there, buckoo. What’s the problem?”
Turns out it wasn’t about me ripping someone off. I had suggested a local business to someone and they felt that they had been ripped off by this person and they felt the need to vent to me.
That’s fine.
I trusted this person/local business as I have bought from them before, and know that their products were of high quality, so I began to ask questions.
With a little investigation, I found out that they felt that they could go and get this product from another person cheaper and felt that the business I had suggested to them was charging too much.
Well, here is the deal folks;
As local business owners, we know that you have a choice to go somewhere else.
We know that sometimes our products cost more.
We know that sometimes it’s easier to buy online.
We know that it’s not always convenient to come to our place of business and make a purchase.
We get it…….BUT….
Ask yourself, are you really paying more?
The price of goods and services from a local business is more complicated than what you see on the price tag.
Here are four reasons local businesses might cost more than big box stores:
Expertise: Many craftsmen and entrepreneurs have spent many hours learning techniques and developing ways to make their job better and easier. This is not a hobby for them; this is their life and their lively hood. Yes, they love what they do (for the most part), but it puts food on the table and sometimes, depending on the business, pays the salaries of employees. For us, it pays for the feed and care that we give our animals so that we can continue to provide you with fresh eggs, milk, soaps, chicks and ducklings.
Quality Customer Service: For many business owners, us included, you have access to our knowledge and expertise. You can call me, text me, or email me with questions and concerns. I have even been to a person’s house with medication in hand when they called me about a sick chicken. But please be mindful of this; don’t take advantage of a small business owner’s generosity. Many times they will go above and beyond because they love their customers so much, but they can’t do everything for free and shouldn’t have to.
Personalized Service: My favorite thing about the farm is my connection with you. I love being able to chat with you when you stop by the farm or the booth at an event. Getting to know ya all is a big deal to me. It helps me to solve your problems and provide you with and even better product(s). Think about it. Is this something you receive from Walmart, HEB, Etzy, or Amazon?
You are not just buying a product: When we buy from local, independent businesses, we’re buying a story. There is love that goes into every product. For us, it’s more than selling you a bar of soap or a couple chickens. For the person who restores furniture, it’s more than the paint put onto the piece. For the artist, there is a reason he/she painted that piece the way they did. It’s about adding value, inspiration, and enrichment to your life; and for that there is no price to be paid.
So, tell me…..
Why do you buy local?
Are you willing to pay a bit more to support a local business?
Drop a comment below and let me know why buying local is important to you.
