Local is the New Black

Economic Benefits

It's no surprise that the new trend is to stay local during good times and bad since local stores depend on our support to stay afloat. Shopping local is a ripple effect because most people who own locally return the favor by going to local vendors, banks, restaurants, and local providers. According to Amy Hartzler from Forbes, for every $100 spent at local businesses, $68 stays within the community! Just think of the effect that can have...

Greater Support 

Since local businesses depend so much on their community, they often live by the “You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours” idea. Local businesses are the first to support local schools and sports teams. They have a strong idea of keeping support within the community and are excited about the community in which they reside.

Better Customer Service & Unique Products 

Locally.com said it best: “There is no substitute for the personal relationships, trusted expertise, or the feel of a product in hand that local shops provide.” Nothing is worse than feeling unappreciated as a customer or being caught on the phone with an operator when you just want to talk to a human. Local shops want to hear your thoughts and opinions on how they can better support you. They also don't deal with any corporate overhead telling them what they can and cannot do.

Who doesn't love boutique shopping? Selling unique products that cannot be found all over the world is a booming trend. Not only is it cheaper to outsource from local brands, but the quality is typically better. Nowadays everyone wants to stand out and be different. This makes local businesses services and products a hot commodity. 

Our Duty

How can hairstylists be helpful, you ask? Well, we have all heard the saying, “Hairstylists are cheaper than therapy...sometimes.” Our clients don't only look to us for therapy and advice, but they also look to us for current trends, style, food recommendations, etc.. Believe it or not, not everyone is up-to-date on these things, and being the person your client can turn to for all kinds of advice, separates you from an average stylist. 

This is where the fun comes in…how else do you learn about and build a passion for shopping local? You shop local! That’s right, local companies love to share their story and are often open to partnerships, or at the very least sharing their story. We all remember the days or are going through the days of going door to door dropping off business cards and creating relationships with surrounding businesses to grow our business. If they get to know you, they might just return the favor and send people to you in return. Overall, most of us are local, and thankfully in our industry, we have people who want to listen and support us...so let's lead by example! 

Ready, Set, Shop Local <3