We are hearing about and seeing the supply chain disruptions around the world, including here in Rhode Island. As such, there is no better time to shop locally than right now.
“Small Business Saturday” is around the corner – November 27th — but I hope you won’t wait to start your shopping.
Why Is It Important to Shop Locally?
1. More of your money will be kept in your local economy. For every $100 you spend at a locally owned business, on average $68 will stay in the community. At a big box store? Only $43 on average. And your tax dollars support the local economy.
2. You embrace what makes your community unique. At local stores, you can get gifts that you can’t get anywhere else!
(You’ll see I’ve already started my shopping. New Harvest coffee and Paleonola granola for a breakfast gift basket. Chi Kitchen kimchi and Backyard Food Company salsa for a flavor fanatic. Soulita skin care products and an adorable hedgehog brush from Beehive Handmade for cleaning up my keyboard!)
3. You create local jobs. Local businesses are better at creating higher-paying jobs for your community.
4. You help the environment. Buying from a locally owned business conserves energy and resources. Everything is packaged at the source and there’s much less transportation of goods.
5. You nurture community. Local business owners know you, and you know them.
This map shows Polaris MEP clients, Rhode Island manufacturers. There are more than 1,400 manufacturers in the state, covering every corner of the Ocean State.
While not all are producing gift-able goods, all of these businesses are more inclined to donate to the community because they are a part of it.
And a bonus reason: If it’s #MadeInRI you don’t have to worry it’s stuck at the Port of Los Angeles.
While You’re Shopping …
Make your community a destination! Whether you’re talking about downtown Providence, Bristol, Newport or Warwick or any place on the way, local store clusters stick together. It’s a fun shopping experience AND you can take a break and dine locally.
Where will you be shopping this holiday season? What Rhode Island-made products will be on your list? Let us know!
Take a picture of your Rhody-Made finds, post it on your favorite social platform, and tag #MadeInRI and Polaris MEP. We’ll share it with our audiences so they, too, can shop local.
Together we can fight the supply chain blues and shine a light on the wonderful “stuff” made in Rhode Island.
I look forward to seeing everyone’s shopping destinations and treasures.
If you’d like to talk about how supply chain issues are impacting your Rhode Island Manufacturing business, please email me at kmahoney@polarismep.org. I’d love the chance to learn about your challenges and offer some “think global, act local” solutions.