The idea of shopping local has grown popular in recent years, and it’s no wonder why; supporting your local community can benefit everyone involved, not just the business owners, but you as well! No matter your reasons for choosing to shop local, it’s nice to know that small businesses are making it easier than ever to do so. Small business owners across America are selling their products online so that you can get exactly what you want without leaving your house. While consumers were once limited to the small shops immediately surrounding their location, local online shopping is now just as accessible as their storefront counterparts, and you don’t even have to leave your home to check them out! No travel required!
The Best Thing About Shopping Locally Online
Local small businesses provide many contributions to the community and often have more personable customer service than large corporations. And though it’s more convenient to shop online, there is something different about knowing your purchase is directly supporting a small business in your community. In fact, studies show that customers are willing to pay more for products when they know their money is going toward local businesses—especially if they’re shopping from home. The benefit of shopping locally extends beyond just financial support; it also strengthens communities by keeping money circulating within them.
Do Consumers Really Care to Shop Local?
On average, more than 30% of online shoppers are willing to buy local when provided an opportunity. If you provide them that opportunity, you can bet that a significant portion will not only be interested but will also follow through by purchasing from local shops. This is especially true during holiday season where people are looking for gifts made by local artisans or crafted by local designers—this is a great time to encourage your customers to shop local!
How We Do It
We’re bringing online shopping and local businesses together with our Community Marketplaces. We help you support small businesses and get what you want—sustainable businesses in your community. Using our platform, communities can create local online marketplaces where they connect with local sellers who ship directly to customers in their area. This means you can shop small at home or anywhere. And, we take no commission fees on purchases!
Promoting Local Businesses
Our Community Marketplaces make it easy to promote one site and market many small businesses at once. If you’re a small business owner, opening up a shop on one of our Community Marketplaces helps you stand out from big-box stores, as well as giving you access to services like dedicated support managers and rich online tools. We take zero commission fees on orders—so if a customer buys something from your store, you only pay credit card processing fees (same as an in-store swipe)!
Our Favorite Local Shops
Shops on our site, which sell everything from t-shirts and home gods to coffee and gift baskets, will be your favorite new places to shop. And unlike large retailers who charge high markups on products, these local businesses allow you to support local workers, owners, and artists while taking advantage of amazing deals.
How Do I Find These Stores?
Local shopping is more convenient and cost-effective, but it can be difficult to find all of your favorite stores in one place. Luckily, many local business owners have come together on our Community Marketplaces—websites that let you peruse their inventories of local small businesses on demand. Member Marketplace operates these local, online, small business marketplaces.
