Let’s start this post with a recent experience I had. I’m originally from the rural county of Devon in the UK, based in a small town on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. I return there when I’m not in Mongolia, and it was during one of my visits that I had an eye-opening moment about the importance of supporting local businesses.
The small town was hosting its annual Food and Music Festival, an event that celebrates local food, music, and crafts. It’s an opportunity for the town to showcase its independent shops, food producers, and local artisans. Throughout the day, local musicians performed in various locations around the town, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. One of my favorite performances was by a wonderful group of singers who sang outside the local museum, which is conveniently located next to a small, independently owned café that I visit every Saturday when I’m home. I make it a point to support this café because it’s part of the fabric of my community.
Now, did you notice how many times I used the word local?
It was as I was sitting there, enjoying the music and a cup of coffee from the café, that I noticed a lady come to listen to the performance. She had a coffee and a pastry in hand, but I quickly realized they weren’t from the local café. She had purchased them from a major supermarket chain in the UK. The irony struck me—here she was, at a local event designed to promote the town’s independent businesses, but instead of buying from one of the local vendors, she had chosen to purchase her items from a large supermarket.
This made me think about why supporting local is so important, not just in our everyday lives but also when we travel.
Why Is Supporting Local So Important?
“We all rely on small businesses in our daily lives, yet many of us may not realize their true impact. Whether it’s the local coffee shop you visit every morning, the parts manufacturer that employs a member of your family, or the accountancy firm that helps you manage your finances, small businesses help to shape our local cities and regions.”
John Longworth – former Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce
It’s easy to default to the convenience of large retailers or supermarkets—after all, many offer free parking, and the allure of getting everything delivered straight to your door can be irresistible. But buying local brings much more than convenience. It’s about creating a thriving, unique community and ensuring the sustainability of that community for generations to come.
Supporting local doesn’t just mean frequenting traditional high street shops like the greengrocer, fishmonger, or butcher—it also means buying from locally owned cinemas, artisan markets, coffee bars, gyms, arts venues, bookshops, and craft shops that host community events. These places provide more than services; they give the community its character and uniqueness. When you support these businesses, you help make your community a better place to live and contribute to the entrepreneurial spirit that drives innovation in your area.
By choosing to support local businesses, you help improve the local economy. Research shows that when you spend money with independent businesses, a significant portion of that money stays in the community, helping to create local jobs and fostering more opportunities for local entrepreneurs. Small businesses are job creators, and most of the jobs they generate are directly tied to the community.
Another benefit of supporting local businesses is the personalized experience. Unlike larger corporations driven by boardrooms and shareholders, small businesses are run by people who genuinely care about providing the best possible service and ensuring that you have a memorable, unique experience. You’re not just a customer; you’re an individual who is valued and appreciated.
Thankfully, there’s been a growing movement in recent years that encourages consumers to look beyond large, impersonal retailers and invest in the businesses that operate within their communities. In a world that is becoming increasingly homogenized, supporting local is a way to preserve the individuality and character of our towns and cities. As the quote says, “It only takes you to start a trend.” It’s a powerful reminder that small actions can create lasting change.
Supporting Local When We Travel
The importance of supporting local goes beyond our hometowns—it extends to the places we travel to as well. Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, spending money with local businesses is an easy way to make a meaningful impact. This could mean staying in locally owned guesthouses rather than large hotel chains, dining at family-owned restaurants instead of international fast food franchises, or shopping at local markets instead of malls. When you choose these options, you help sustain the local economy, support cultural preservation, and encourage more authentic, community-driven experiences.
In Mongolia, for example, when we travel, we make a conscious effort to support local Mongolian businesses, from small family-owned ger camps to local artisans. By doing so, we help ensure that the benefits of tourism are felt directly by the people whose communities and cultures we’re visiting. It’s a philosophy we embrace at Eternal Landscapes, where we focus on responsible tourism that brings value to both our guests and the communities we work with. It’s about creating a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship between travelers and locals.
When we support local businesses while traveling, we not only contribute to the local economy but also enrich our own travel experiences. Supporting small businesses often means you’ll interact with the people who live in the area and gain a deeper understanding of the culture, customs, and way of life. It’s a more authentic way to travel, and it’s an opportunity to be part of something larger than just the destination itself.
Whether at home or abroad, supporting local businesses is a simple but powerful way to make a positive impact on the communities we live in and visit. It helps preserve the uniqueness and character of local areas, contributes to the local economy, and provides a more personalized, authentic experience for both consumers and business owners. So, next time you’re in your hometown or exploring a new destination, take a moment to consider how you can support local. Your choice could help make the community stronger and more resilient, ensuring it thrives for years to come.