Small business owners, assemble! We all need to be shouting this message from the rooftops!

Let’s all share this message far and wide and support each other.

Running a small business is BRUTAL. I mean, sometimes it can feel like pushing a boulder up a hill, blindfolded, whilst balancing a cup of water on your head, AND juggling one handed behind your back at the same time. That’s some serious hard work and multitasking. It is definitely not for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure.

Whilst us small business owners are busy juggling product design, marketing, social media, product photography, making the orders, customer service, GPSR and GDPR (that’s a blast from the past!), simply trying to make a living, it seems that big brands are getting bigger, richer and greedier.

It can feel like we’re fighting a losing battle sometimes, which is why we need to stand up and take action.

One of the first things you, small business owner, can do to take a stand is shout about reasons to shop small, and I’ve just made it even easier for you.

Here are 7 (of the many) reasons why people should be shopping small. I’ve also included a helpful graphic, saved to Instagram post dimensions, for you to download and post. The link is at the bottom of this page. I only ask that you tag me in it- @The.Makers.Hub -Let’s all support each other!

Reasons To Support Small Business

There are, of course, many more reasons. But these are my favourite 7 reasons to shop small. And, with reasons like this, why wouldn’t we all choose to shop small more often?

Shopping Small Is Good For The Economy

Small and medium-sized businesses in the UK had a combined turnover of £2.18 trillion last year, which amounts to an impressive 52% of the private sector’s overall turnover. Small businesses employ around 16.3 million people in the UK. When people have jobs, they pay taxes and have more money to spend.

So, basically, when you buy something from a small business, you are keeping the country going, and that makes you a hero in my eyes.

Small Businesses Offer Brilliant Customer Support

If you like to order off-menu, then small businesses are totally where it’s at. Extra personalisation? Sure, no problem! Custom design in a totally unique colour way? You got it! Got a question about the product? We’ve got you.

Funny story. In my product business, we used to offer a product where customers could upload a photograph and we’d print it on photo paper and attach it to a cut out square frame , set inside a greetings card. One customer submitted a photo of her beloved dogs for this product and not only was the photo not square, but the dogs were so far apart on her kitchen floor that they couldn’t fit in the frame together, however much I tried. So, rather than telling her I couldn’t do it, I photoshopped that darn dog from one side of the kitchen floor to the other. Yup. I did that. Took me ages, too. I should also just point out that this was back before AI and Canva.

That’s the difference between shopping small and shopping big. Small businesses can put in the extra care and effort. Even if they have to drag a chihuahua across a tiled floor via photoshop so it’s in the frame.

Because small businesses are run by small teams of real people, we are in a much better place for offering a more personalised service. Small businesses can usually find the time to help you with your queries and make sure your order is completely perfect, even if you’re ordering off-menu.

You Find Unique Products When You Shop Small

I love buying unusual, quirky, thoughtful and handmade things that you just can’t find when you shop with bigger brands. There really is nothing quite as satisfying as finding that completely perfect, thoughtful gift for someone, and knowing that no one else will have got them the same thing.

Life is too short for boring, generic and mass produced tat.

Supporting Small Business Also Supports Communities

When you shop small and local, a portion of that money stays within the community. It helps create local jobs and supports local services. Many small business owners like to give back to their communities, too. My product business has invested money into local businesses, bought a public access defibrillator and donates to the local foodbank.

Shopping Small Is Better For The Environment

I don’t know about you, but my Instagram feed is full of the most awful stories about how badly employees are treated in India and China, making cheap clothes that are then flown half way around the world and sold for pennies. It honestly makes me feel a bit ill.

As a small business owner myself, I pay my staff the real living wage, I source materials that are sustainable, recyclable, plastic free and made as local as possible. I can’t afford to waste anything, so offcuts get turned into other things. Oh, and our rubbish is collected by a company called “Zero To Landfill”. I think these sorts of actions are pretty standard for most UK small businesses.

When You Shop Small, You Make A Real Difference To Real People

Does Jeff notice when you order something on prime delivery from his website? No, of course he doesn’t!

Does the CEO of your local major supermarket care whether you buy a loaf of bread from them or not? Probably not.

However, when someone orders something from a small business, it really does make a difference.

I’ve never been one for the ol’ “every time you shop small an actual person does a happy dance”.

I mean, I’m not sure about you but I’m too creaky for happy dances, I don’t have much rhythm and I’m usually too busy working.

BUT, I am so very grateful for every single order. I may not do actual happy dances, but I do pay for groceries, cover my mortgage and put petrol in my car. All of which I am so unbelievably grateful for.

Supporting small business truly does make a difference to real people.

To Support A Small Business Is To Support Someone’s Dream

When people choose to buy something from my small business rather than a big brand, not only are they helping me pay my way in life, but they are also supporting my dream. How wonderful is that?

Summing Up

Shop small! And tell everyone you know to shop small, too!

As promised, here is the free download for my support small illustration. Be sure to tag me @The.Makers.Hub if you do share it over on Instagram!