BuyLocal’s Guide to Local Shopping for Black Friday

11/08/2021

Are you excited for the holidays but dreading the craziness of gift shopping? Don’t worry. BuyLocal is here to offer 3 reasons to shop locally this season to save you from the myriad of options and lengthy lines that is Black Friday shopping. Both business owners and shoppers can implement these tips to make the most out of this festive time.

Consumer perspective: "Why should I practice local shopping? Does it even really matter? Big retailers have better deals and sales anyway."

These are all common questions and misconceptions associated with supporting small shops, makers, farmers and other local businesses. Local shopping absolutely does matter and in more ways than you may think.

• There are over 31.7 million small businesses in the United States . According to SCORE , about 19% of those millions of businesses are family owned and operated. Buying from local businesses this Black Friday helps support real families that need to do their own holiday shopping too!
• Local shopping also helps stimulate the economy within your own community. When you shop locally nearly 50% of that money spent stays local, but when you shop at a large retailer, only 14% stays within the local community.
• While big retailers and superstores may have a larger inventory because of more store and storage space, consumers are able to have a more personalized shopping experience whenever they shop locally. You can build connections with the makers themselves and purchase products that are handmade and customized to fit your specific, one-of-a-kind order. With BuyLocal’s app, you can discover more local shops that offer the items on your holiday shopping list!

Business owner perspective: “Should we offer Black Friday deals? Are they really that beneficial?”

There’s some controversy on whether small businesses should participate in Black Friday sales and events or not. If you’re skeptical about this for your business, here are three reasons Black Friday sales can increase your sales.

• Black Friday deals are an excellent time to show customer appreciation. You’re able to share sales with those loyal customers who have been with you since the beginning. Build out your email marketing by offering unique discounts to those who sign up with their email.
  
  
• Holiday shopping season is a great time to ramp up brand awareness and engagement. Utilize social media by posting about sales and new products coming to your store. You could even ramp up excitement for your Black Friday event by hosting a giveaway beforehand!
  
  
• The world of ecommerce and online shopping is only growing, so businesses would be smart to join the movement. Using this time to transition your products and sales to an online store would be invaluable. Back in 2019, about 93.2 million shoppers made a purchase online during Black Friday sales, and that number is predicted to rise. Utilizing online shopping options shows your customers that your store has the same availability and convenience as other larger retailers. Now consumers can find unparalleled customer service and one-of-a-kind products from the comfort of their own homes!