Join the Buy Local Movement

Technology, along with the World Wide Web, has dramatically changed the way people shop. In the last century, one would spend the most part of the day walking around to locally clustered businesses, or a mall, and shop for the best value. Today people use their tablet or cell phone to find the best deal and order online. This has had a large impact on the brick and mortar businesses, including local businesses and big box stores.

Who wouldn’t rather shop leisurely from home in less than a ½ hour then spend hours driving and walking around to purchase something? Not to recently many used the internet to search for and compare products or services online and then find and go to a local merchant to make their purchase. As people have become more trusting of web transactions, these purchases are now taking place online. The problem now is that most items come from somewhere other than in the neighbourhood hurting the local economy.

Even though the economy is on the upswing, it is still struggling to gain momentum. The best thing one can do for themselves is to Join the M.A.D. Movement to Make A Difference in the local economy. According to American Independent Business Alliance buying locally affects the local economy directly, indirectly and with an Induced impact. This means that spending is done locally by a business paying operating expenses and wages, along with spending at other local businesses. Additional consumer spending transpires as these employees and business owners spend their income in the local economy.

There are also many other benefits derived from local shopping aside from just strengthening the local economy. Unique small businesses give our neighbourhoods distinct character and are more involved in the community and its development resulting in enhanced wealth and health of you and your neighbours. Shopping locally improves our local economy and improves our lifestyle.

When searching online, be sure to search for local businesses. When I search for anything online, I always add at the end of my search text “in Calgary” to find a local business to purchase from. I perform my search for a product or service online and check out the reviews to evaluate my choices. I then find a local retailer to provide me with what I was looking for. I actually prefer to physically check it out before I purchase an item. I also enjoy going out and doing some public socializing while shopping.

WebStamp was created to help stimulate the local economy by getting Calgarians and local businesses to connect with their communities. Local commerce is a part of WebStamp is offering with its local business directory. The WebStamp Businesses Directory is divided into 5 Zones, downtown, and the 4 quadrants, so our readers can search for businesses in their area. If you have a business in Calgary, be sure to get your Free Business Listing in WebStamp’s Business Directory and Join the Movement to promote local shopping.

There are many advantages to shopping locally. WebStamp’s Marketplace is a place where you can shop locally online from local area merchants and choose either local pickup or delivery. As we grow, so will the list of the local merchants you can shop from. Join the Buy Local Movement and improve your lifestyle.