Why Shopping Local Has More Impact on Your Local Economy Than Any President Ever Will

Every four years, we’re told that our votes in national elections will shape the future of our economy. While leadership at the top matters, here’s the truth: your daily spending habits have a far greater and more immediate impact on your local economy than whoever sits in the Oval Office.

While some policies may eventually trickle down (and I use that term ironically), when you spend money at a locally owned business, the effects are direct, tangible, and powerful. So, before you pin all your hopes on a politician’s economic promises (or those of his billionaire buddies), consider this: shopping local is one of the most effective ways to strengthen your community, create jobs, and build long-term resilience—no matter who’s in charge of the country.

1. More Money Stays in Your Community

When you buy from an independent business, more of your money stays local. Studies show that for every $100 spent at a local business, roughly $68 stays in the community, compared to only $43 when spent at a national chain. And when you order from Amazon? Nearly all of it disappears into a billionaire’s portfolio.

Local businesses source more goods and services from nearby suppliers, hire local accountants, use local marketing agencies, and keep the money flowing within the community. Every dollar you spend locally circulates multiple times, helping to create a multiplier effect that strengthens the local economy.

2. Local Businesses Create Jobs (And Pay People Fairly)

According to the SBA, small businesses create two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. But beyond just job creation, local businesses tend to offer better wages and working conditions than massive corporations that cut costs wherever they can. In Asheville and Western NC, you can look for the Living Wage Certified badge administered by local certifying body, Just Economics.

Instead of supporting a big-box retailer that thrives on underpaying workers, shopping at a locally owned store helps ensure your neighbors can earn a living wage. And unlike corporate chains, local business owners reinvest their profits into the community, not stock buybacks or offshore tax havens.

3. Shopping Local Strengthens Your Community

Local businesses are deeply connected to their communities in ways that corporate giants simply aren’t. They support local charities, sponsor youth sports teams, and contribute to community events.

Ever seen Amazon sponsor your town’s food drive? Didn’t think so.

By choosing to spend money at businesses that actually care about the people they serve, you help foster a sense of connection and collective well-being.

4. Local Businesses Make Your City Unique

Every city has its character, and much of that comes from its small businesses. The local coffee shop, the independent bookstore, the quirky boutique—these places make a town feel like home rather than a carbon copy of every other place with a Target and a Starbucks.

If you want to preserve what makes your city special, supporting local businesses is one of the most effective ways to do it.

5. Shopping Local Reduces Environmental Impact

Local businesses often have smaller supply chains, which means fewer emissions from long-distance shipping. Buying from a local farm or bakery instead of a national grocery chain? That’s fewer trucks, fewer miles, and a lower carbon footprint.

And let’s not forget packaging—shopping locally means less waste from excessive plastic wrapping and oversized shipping boxes.

6. You Have More Control Than You Think

Presidents come and go, and while policies change, the best way to improve your economy today, tomorrow, and years down the line is to vote with your dollars.

Want to see your community thrive? Support the businesses that keep it alive. That’s economic power in real time—no waiting for Congress to pass a bill.

So next time you need to buy something, think small. Think local. Your home’s future depends on it.

7. Get Involved in Local Politics

If politics are your thing, getting involved at the city, county, and state levels has never mattered more. Local governments make decisions about zoning, small business grants, and economic policies that directly impact the success of your community far more than federal policies often do. Attending city council meetings, voting in local elections, and advocating for policies that support small businesses can amplify the impact of your spending choices. Shopping local is powerful—but shaping the local policies that affect businesses and communities carries the magnitude of scale.

Final Thoughts: Shop Like It Matters—Because It Does

Look, no one is saying you alone can take down corporate monopolies with a single purchase. But imagine if everyone in your community redirected even a fraction of their spending to local businesses. The impact would be seismic.

You don’t need to wait for a president to "fix the economy" when you have the power to do something about it today. Shop like your community depends on it—because it does. And hey, if all else fails, at least your barista knows your name, and your money isn’t funding another billionaire’s joyride to space. Small victories, right?

And if you’re still not convinced, just ask yourself—when was the last time your locally owned bookstore tried to launch itself into orbit?