Shop Local & Help Small Businesses Thrive

The secret to success if you’re a small company is to get your community to support you. And as more people become aware of the importance of supporting small local enterprises, the more likely these small UK businesses will be able to succeed.

Many businesses have closed their doors in the current recession, so keeping small businesses in your community alive is a priority. And for good reason.

To shop local, or small, involves catering to the people in your community. By becoming familiar with those customers who live in your vicinity, you can give them exactly what they want and need. You’re also providing something they can have immediately, as local delivery is fast and you can have instant, or almost instant, gratification. Often a small company offers products or services that are personalised, even hand-made, whether it’s food, clothing, or a lifestyle accessory. And that makes them even more charming.

What Does Shopping Local Mean?

When you shop local, you buy from a local producer or supplier who specialises in something, whether baked goods, a specialty food or clothing store, or fabric printing, like maake. You’re supporting a small company in your community, when you do so, the company prospers, and the people who work in that store or company benefit as a result.

According to an article in Forbes Magazine, statistics have shown that when people buy locally, at least 45% of the money spent stays local. Not only do neighbouring companies create work, but they also network with each other and supply each other, making the entire chain stronger. Compare that to purchasing from a national supermarket or chain, where just 14% of your money remains in the community. That’s a huge difference.

The article quotes Jessica Ling, Senior VP of global brand advertising at American Express, the company that put Shop Small on the map. She said small businesses “are the lifeblood of our communities that help create jobs, boost the economy, and enrich our neighbourhoods”.

She gives figures to justify this – the 2022 American Express Small Economic Impact Study showed that of every $1 spent with a neighbouring business, more than two-thirds remained in the community, helping to support locals and other neighbouring businesses.

To give a better perspective: A recent study by the British government shows that for every £10 spent by customers who live in the community, £3.85 is subsequently recirculated within that community. And this assists the entire country to recover.

There is a downside: statistics also show that more than 25% of neighbourhood businesses fail due to no support. Remember: the more you buy in your area, the fewer shops and companies in the community will close.

How do we Define This Type of Business?

Every community needs a variety of businesses and at least one community store to service its needs, so it makes sense to think about what you can offer that community that is unique, but necessary, something that will fill a gap in the market.

Small businesses come in all shapes and sizes, but the more unique the company, the more likely it is to survive. And if that small company in your community uses the services of others in the area, that’s even better. This also enables some of these small businesses to grow and become regional.

Often, small businesses are franchises of larger national or international companies. These franchises are bought and run by locals. When this happens, much of the franchise end up staying within the community. These franchises use suppliers in the community and participate in causes that benefit the community.

The market cannot survive on small neighbouring businesses alone, but they must be aware of contributing to the community in every way possible, you can make a difference to the status quo. Every time you support a small company in your community, you’re helping to make a difference. 

Remember: Major national companies and online businesses pay little or no UK income tax, whereas small businesses all pay income tax. 

5 Steps to Shopping Small & Local

It’s important to change your mindset towards buying in small stores nearby. Use some of these tips and see how you can make a difference in your community.

1. Buy gift vouchers or gifts from stores in your community.
2. Shopping merchandise in your community for all services – fresh produce, hairdresser, florist, restaurants etc.
3. Whenever possible, choose local: garden services, dry cleaners, garage for petrol, gym, markets, coffee shops, bakeries, etc.
4. Think before you buy. Are you about to give your cash to a supplier who works nearby, or is the store a national or international chain?
5. Shop around. You’ll find that shopping within your neighbourhood isn’t always more expensive, despite its personalised service and manufacture. 

Important Reasons to Visit a Neighbourhood Shop

• Neighbourhood businesses are more sustainable: they use other businesses in the vicinity as their suppliers, which reduces their environmental impact.
• Products and services are original and can be personalised to suit the customer. They are also more unique, and only produced in small batches.
• You’re ensuring business owners can survive in a competitive market by supporting a neighbouring company when the country faces a recession. You’re helping companies create jobs and infrastructure in your community. You are also assisting in creating an identity and forming a unique and distinct personality and culture in your community.
• Every Pound matters: Your spending power makes a difference in the community, helps grow small businesses, and boosts job creation. When you purchase goods this way, you’re not just supporting a neighbouring company: you’re investing in your community, in the dreams of the people who run these small neighbouring businesses and their employees.
• Many businesses nearby are more sustainable when they manufacture products and package them. One small purchase can help your entire community prosper. After all, transporting food across the UK costs the country about 35% carbon emissions. The closer you are to a food supplier, the better.
• You’re fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. You ensure your community can create innovative, bespoke products and services. You’re also generating income for the community so it can thrive.
• Purchasing from businesses in your area offers you as a customer a much more enjoyable experience, one that is personal, too.

Benefits of Shops Close to Home

1. 1. You enjoy one-of-a-kind products and services, often tailored to your requirements.
   2. You get to know the store’s staff personally and they treat you accordingly. They’re always willing to stop and have a chat and make sure that you’re happy with your purchases.
   3. Compared to items manufactured in bulk, products from a store in your area are more likely to be of good quality and to last.
   4. You’re contributing to the country’s economy. After all, when small businesses grow, the community benefits, with more jobs and money spent within the country.

   Shop local at maake 

We Believe in Community Production

At maake, we produce your entire order in our NW London mill, and we are happy to accommodate pick-ups instead of deliveries to reduce our carbon footprint. 

We Believe in Great Britain

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We are proud members of Make it British; we choose responsible sourcing from trusted UK mills. We're also an accredited 'London Living Wage' employer, ensuring our team's financial well-being. Our print-on-demand services at our North West London mill promise no excess and waste. As mentioned above, we encourage carbon emission reduction with free pick-up services.

In addition, our fabric printing uses zero water and less energy than a fan heater – 95% less energy than traditional textile printing. Plus, we power up with 100% renewable energy. 

The inks we print with on fabric are all Oeko-tex and GOTS 6.0 approved, ensuring safety even in children's products. Our fabrics pass stringent EN71-3 certification & are formaldehyde-free.

Read our extensive guide to find out more about Fabric Certifications here.

We Believe in Shopping Local

As a part of our business model, maake is committed to supporting small and medium UK businesses. Shopping Small is a nationwide movement celebrating small businesses daily and help communities thrive and stay vibrant. By using a small businesses, you show your support to your community.

We believe in helping small businesses by giving them opportunities they wouldn't have with traditional textile printing.

maake Goes Local 

When you support smaller businesses in your vicinity, you support your community. As a smaller company ourselves, we focus on helping other small businesses in the UK, by giving them opportunities they wouldn’t have with traditional textile printing companies.

We do Things Differently

Read how we do things differently at maake. We focus on watching happy, successful entrepreneurs making a positive impact in the textile industry – for clothing, interior design, homeware, and any other fabric product:

• We only use local, sustainably-minded fabric manufacturers to provide us with fabric for you to print on. Alternatively, we are happy for you to provide your own.
• We focus on giving back. We have an extensive library of independent designers who provide us with exclusive patterns that you can print on the fabric. These designs come with a non-exclusive license allowing you to sell products made using them. Each time you shop for one of those designers’ patterns to print on, they get paid.
• Our on-demand sustainable printing is fast. It takes 2 to 5 days from ordering to receiving your confirmation. That’s what ‘shop local’ this way is all about. Also, free shipping costs are less than if you purchase from an overseas company.
• We print exactly what you need – no more. This way, we’re helping you to be sustainable and we’re being sustainable ourselves.
• We focus on personalised customer service. This includes artistic and technical assistance from an expert team.
• Over 10,000 businesses have worked with us to introduce sustainable digital textile printing into their brand. Many of them have become more visible and increased in growth in their respective industries. That’s the essence of being able to purchase this way, no matter the types of cards you use. 

''Fashion entrepreneurs lead the charge for sustainable progress,  embracing the United Nations' goals. We tackle challenges and seize opportunities through powerful partnerships, driving transformative change across industries. Together, we shape a sustainable future for all  entrepreneurs.'' 

– Artemis Doupa, maake Co-Founder