Why Shopping Local Matters

Our friends at the Boho Market have guest-written a blog post for us! If you're newer to Designs by Andrea, you may not know that dbandrea started by selling pressed flower art at markets such as Boho Market! ⁠⁠

You may be wondering what all the “support local” hype is about and why it’s so important to shop from local businesses. The truth is, when you spend your hard-earned money with small businesses in your community, you enjoy benefits you couldn’t possibly get from shopping at national chains!

Fun fact: for every $100 spent, between $68 to $73 of it goes straight back into your local economy. Whether you realize it or not, when you shop local you are helping support your neighbors, friends, and even yourself. In turn, you help shape your community’s unique character and personality!

Not convinced? Here’s more:

1. Find Unique and Exclusive Items

Local makers craft their items in small batches and use unique methods that you cannot find in mass-produced goods. Feel free to flaunt your one-of-a-kind finds and spread the word about where you got them!

2. Improve Your Local Economy

Think about all the things we so often take for granted about our local communities: the stellar schools, good roads, amazing restaurants, the adorable boutique on the square, weekly farmers markets, etc.

Now try to imagine what your community would be like if the funds weren't there to maintain the schools and roads. Imagine if local chefs, restauranteurs, boutique owners, farmers, and the like couldn't stay in business. That would be pretty terrible, right?

3. Reduce Your Environmental Impact

Transportation across the globe can have a huge negative impact on our environment. Because local businesses make more local purchases, less transportation is required. In turn, you’re contributing less to pollution, traffic congestion, habitat loss, and resource depletion!

4. Non-Profits Receive More Support

Local business owners provide significant support for non-profits. In fact, non-profits receive as much as 350% more money from local shops than nationally- or internationally-owned businesses. That’s a lot!

5. Better customer experience

When you shop locally, you can expect amazing customer service that will take the time to talk with you and guarantee an amazing experience. Since the makers are so knowledgeable and passionate about their products, they can help you get exactly what you’re looking for. (Or even better, make something especially for you!)

About The Boho Market

The Boho Market has grown to be the largest pop-up open-air makers market in Texas, setting up over 80 times a year across 11 cities in the state. At each event, vendor applications are pored over with a limited number of each type selected so that every Boho is unique and shoppers are offered an ever-changing variety of local goods from which to choose. Growing this culture of support for local small businesses and genuine care that both the artisan and the shopper feel at home at The Boho Market is what sets Boho apart.

Blog & Images provided by @thebohomarket