Introduction

Shopping locally and buying handmade things goes beyond just supporting small businesses. It's about knowing where your goods are coming from and how they're made. Shopping locally can help you build relationships with people in your community, and it helps keep small businesses thriving (and not going under). Not only that, but shopping locally can be better for the environment because of reduced shipping costs and carbon emissions associated with transporting goods across the country or world (depending on where they're being shipped from).

Know What You're Buying

• Know your product. If you're considering purchasing handmade items, make sure you understand who they are, who made them and why they're special.

• Know the shop or seller. Does the store have a mission statement? How long has it been open? What types of products do they carry--and how many of those products are handmade?

• Check for quality. If you're buying something like clothing or accessories (or anything else that could be damaged), check for signs of poor craftsmanship before making your purchase by asking questions like: "Does this seam look sturdy enough?" or "How do these buttons feel when I press on them?"

Support Small Businesses

• Supporting small businesses helps them stay in business.

• Small businesses are more likely to give back to their community.

• Small businesses are more likely to care about their customers and offer good customer service.

• Small businesses are more likely to be environmentally friendly, as they don't have the resources or scale that larger companies do.

Check Out Local Farmers Markets

If you're looking to support and connect with local businesses, farmers markets are a great place to start. You'll be able to meet the people who grow your food, as well as other people who care about the same things you do. Plus, when we shop at farmers markets instead of supermarkets and department stores, we're helping our communities thrive: Farmers' incomes increase when more people buy directly from them rather than through middlemen; customers get fresher produce that hasn't been shipped across the country or overseas; communities benefit from increased economic activity (and therefore tax revenues); and small businesses don't have to compete against huge corporations for shelf space or advertising dollars--all because there aren't any shelves or advertising dollars!

Look for Secondhand Stores Near You

If you're looking to save money and still support local businesses, secondhand stores are the way to go. These shops are great places to find unique items at a lower price than new ones, so they're perfect for those who want their purchases to be unique and handmade while still being affordable.

• Check with your local city government or chamber of commerce; they may have information about any secondhand stores in your area. If not, try searching online or ask around town--you might be surprised by what people know!

• You can also check out websites like eBay or Craigslist for listings of secondhand stores near you (and elsewhere).

Find Your Own Niche

• Find Your Own Niche

You may be wondering how to find your own niche, but it's much easier than it sounds. You need only look at the things that interest you and ask yourself: "How can I make this better?" For example, if you love baking cookies with your kids but hate having to roll out dough, try inventing an easy-to-use cookie cutter kit that comes with pre-cut circles of dough--and maybe even some frosting! The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating new products or services based on what interests and excites us most personally.

Shopping locally is important because it helps small businesses and communities.

Shopping locally is important because it helps small businesses and communities.

• Supporting small businesses is good for the economy. Small businesses create jobs, boost the economy, and provide services that larger corporations cannot match. They also support local communities by purchasing materials from other local businesses or hiring people from the community who live nearby.

• Buying handmade goods supports artisans around the world who are trying to make a living doing what they love while being sustainable at the same time! Artisans may use natural materials such as wool or cotton instead of synthetic fibers in their products so they are less harmful to our environment when disposed of (e.g., at landfill sites).

Conclusion

Shopping locally is an important way to support small businesses and communities. You can do this by buying handmade goods from Etsy or other websites, checking out farmers markets in your area and supporting local farmers who sell their produce there, looking for secondhand stores near you where you can find unique items at great prices, or even finding something special about yourself that no one else does!

Photo by Kris Møklebust: https://www.pexels.com/photo/knitting-needle-and-fabric-15041762/