Take the time to understand what it means to support a small business and ways you can support one. There are benefits that come by supporting small businesses. When you realize the number of small businesses that surround you, it is considerable to think about the amount of time, commitment, and labor that was put forward into creating each one.

Growing up in an urban population, a majority of the stores in the neighborhood were independently owned. African and Dominican hair salons, barbershops, beauty supply stores, clothing stores, Haitian restaurants, and more were easily accessible. On nearly every corner, there were independently owned convenience stores that were referred to as corner stores.

Every weekday morning, before entering the school building, my cousins, older brother, and I would visit our favorite corner store, Mike and Jerry’s store, which still exists today. During those days, I can also recall how a single dollar could be stretched to purchase more than three items.

Supporting small businesses encourages local prosperity. It has been proven that more entrepreneurs are not only going to go into business on their own, but those individuals are likely to invest and settle in communities where they believe they will have the most support.

This may sound a bit cliché, but it's true that by supporting a small business, you will become aware of the people behind the products. Think about it like this, if you visit a local market, purchase a fruit and later find that you are unsatisfied with that purchase (in most cases), owners from that market will be more than happy to either refund you that money or offer an exchange. Now, this is also a common scenario in most chain stores, but the concept that is made here is that you can feel a sense of connection that can be built between you and the small business owner.

By owners getting to know their loyal customers, a higher guaranteed confidence in knowing that better customer care and a more personalized service geared towards their specific needs will be met.

The neighborhood where I once lived is culturally established. There are currently a mixture of Haitians, Dominicans, Venezuelans, Jamaicans, African-Americans, and a few other races. In an already culturally established community, having a business that is built upon similar values can help keep the culture alive within that specific area.

A few blocks from my old apartment building there used to be an elderly woman who owned a tailor shop. The boutique was bright colored, and I enjoyed walking by there all the time when I was younger. The late elderly woman was well known for her honesty and precise service of offering tailored clothing. Though I’ve never had the chance to get to know her personally, I admired her character. She was very kind, gentle, and soft-spoken. But what I loved most about her was that she was also a strong woman who took her business seriously.

There are so many beneficial factors that occur when supporting small businesses. Doing so also has a great impact toward improving the environment because it limits the usage of aircraft transportation and shipping overseas, both of which burn a significant amount of fuel annually.

Now that I live in a completely different area from where I am used to, I am excited to explore the local shops around me. Since I am a tea lover, visiting a local coffee or teashop also has its perks! Apart from making tea on my own, beverages tend to taste better, cost less than regular chain stores, and I personally love making friends with baristas!

Local can mean different things to different people, depending on where you are and what you are looking for. Supporting small businesses means more than just offering financial support; it’s also about strengthening the community. Visit some of the local shops in and around your area. You may just be surprised of the diverse products that are available.