Local Business Spotlight

Let's Keep It Personal

Small business has always been the heartbeat of our nation and North Texas is a good example. According to the Small Business Administration nearly 50% of the employment in the Nation was through small business, with companies having 20 to 99 employees having the largest share. Our local businesses, particularly the restaurants and consumer-facing have been hit hard and many have closed permanently while others are struggling to stay open - let's help those that are trying to get back on their feet!

This page is dedicated to spotlighting local business and to encourage our readers to keep their business local as much as possible. After all, it's all about the local economy, your neighbors, your friends and possible even you! The one undeniable factor about local business is that the majority of the dollars spent on local business stay local and support our local economy - not true with the big box stores and online businesses like Amazon. They have their place, but let's step up our help of the small businesses in our area. Here are 8 more reasons to shop local:

1. Help Out Your Fellow Neighbors

Local businesses are the result of the dreams and ambitions of your neighbors and community members, many of whom have invested all of their life savings and assets in their business. You’ve likely known many of these local business owners from a young age, and have grown up seeing their business ride the tides of fortune and support local community efforts and little league teams. You can make a difference! Invest in the shop owners who have invested in your community, through charity work, generosity,  and by building deep personal bonds with everyone they serve. Your local chain store will never know your name, Amazon only knows your name because it's in their computer, but these storeowners will remember you.

2. Experience Truly Excellent Customer Service

“Don’t have enough change right now? Don’t sweat it.” When’s the last time you heard that while out shopping? We bet it wasn’t recently, unless you’re shopping local. It’s the little gestures like that that bring humanity back into our daily lives and our communities. When supporting local businesses, you’re more likely to receive excellent customer service because they're conscious of earning your business and loyalty with every interaction. That’s the beauty of living and shopping local in a close-knit community.  You’re taken seriously and treated like a human being and not an account number.

3. Score Local Bargains

While your local business may not have the limitless selection, they, too, often value local deals and prioritize local brands. And with the championing of local products, you’ll often encounter local bargains that national brands can’t beat or would never offer. Help bolster and support your local business ecosystem and also enjoy the bargains that come with local loyalty.

4. Give Your Local Entrepreneurs a Lifeline In Tough Times

 5. Support People’s Passions and Entrepreneurial Spirit

Local businesses make a major impact on our local economy through employee wages, sales tax and local B2B purchases from other small businesses in the area. By voting with your wallet, you’re pushing back against the corporate narrative that only the mighty survive, and instead encourage normal local people to believe in the power of their dreams. And when you support local business, you’re encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to “go for it” and open up their dream business as well. And the more successful dreams you have in your community, the stronger and more interesting your commercial center will be.

6. Leverage Your Dollars for Maximum Impact.

Unlike Corporations, locally owned businesses circulate most of their earnings to other nearby businesses and suppliers. So when you shop local, your dollars go full circle in the community. Spend your money in the place that matters most for you and let your purchase make the biggest difference, dollar for dollar.

7. Take Care of the Environment

By shopping local, you become a steward of economic sustainability. By supporting local businesses you minimize your carbon footprint, by reducing the amount of travel and fossil fuels consumed to get your item to you. Local businesses help cut down transportation costs and reduce the volume of non-recyclable packaging used per purchase. Want to take a step forward in economic sustainability and taking care of our Earth? Shop Local.

8. Enjoy the Pure Uniqueness of Local Products

Mass-manufactured products are simply generic. Visit a McDonalds’ or Walmart in any State, and all the same, items are there. Take pride in where you’re from and what it offers. Variety (and uniqueness) are the spice of life. Use your hard-earned dollars for maximum pleasure by enjoying that locally famous restaurant or café that has something on the menu that nobody can replicate. Local business owners put their heart and soul into their products, and you deserve to enjoy something unique. Explore and enjoy your local products and community.

Bringing the Spotlight on Local Business

We will be turning the spotlight on local businesses from our North Texas LifeStyle Newsletter and occasionally our blogs to bring to your attention both local favorites  famous and venerated business to new and emerging small local business.

Help Support These Local Businesses

COVINO'S - pasta & pizza

Recently remodeled is one of my favorite locally owned neighborhood eatery for Italian pastas & classic dishes, with a BYOB policy and patio dining! Joe Covino is so friendly and always there to greet you...maybe I'll see you there too. Please help support our small local businesses.

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We’re always interested in your feedback or suggestions on topics you’d like to see in our newsletter, feel free to let us know at RealEstate@GeniManning.com.