Shop Local & Help Small Businesses Thrive

The secret to success for a small company is to be supported by your community. As more people become aware of the importance of supporting small local enterprises, these small UK businesses will be more likely to succeed.

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

To shop local involves catering to the people in your neighbourhood. By becoming familiar with the customers who live in your vicinity, you can provide them with exactly what they want and need. You’re also giving something they can access 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 shop from a local producer or supplier who specialises in a niche, whether it’s baked goods, a speciality food or clothing store, or fabric printing, like maake. Shop local means you’re supporting a small company in your area. When you do this, the company prospers, and the people who work in that store or company benefit as a result.

According to a 2024 article on the website Simply Business, “high street businesses are struggling”. It tells us that “independent newsagents, clothes shops, and even pubs and bars could become completely extinct by 2038”.

Statistics show that more than 25% of neighbourhood businesses fail due to no support. Remember: the more you shop in your area, the fewer shops and companies in the area will close.

Why Shop Local?

As retail experts in the UK are predicting the closing of local shops in 2025, your contribution to the local community could stop this from happening in your area. This is why shopping local has become a major talking point right now. Here’s why you should support your local stores, and, if you’re a local store owner, you should be supporting your neigbours:

·      The only way to keep local stores alive is to use them. Make this a habit, instead of heading for a shopping mall.

·      A recent study by the British government shows that for every £10 spent by people living in the area, £3.85 is subsequently recirculated within that vicinity. This also assists the entire country in financial recovery.

·      Many small businesses also support local community efforts, such as fundraising, charities, sports events, etc. Help them do this by supporting them.

·      Local business provides job opportunities. Working close to home is a major advantage, as transport is expensive these days.

·      Every time you buy something that is grown and produced locally, you’re ensuring a lower carbon footprint than if those items were transported long distances.

·      Despite online shopping being a popular choice, many people prefer to see and feel an item before they purchase it, and to deal with a real salesperson. Personal contact remains important. We’re human, after all!

How Do We Define Local Shops?

Every neighbourhood needs a combination of businesses plus at least one neighbourhood store to service its needs. So, it makes sense to consider what you can offer that area that is unique, but necessary, something that will fill a gap.

 Local shops 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 neighbourhood uses the services of others in the area, that’s even better. This 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 purchased and run by local people. When this happens, the franchise stays in the area. These franchises use local suppliers and participate in causes that benefit the neighbourhood.

The area cannot survive on small neighbouring businesses alone. However, they need to contribute to the area in every way possible, to make a difference to the status quo. Every time you support a small company in your neighbourhood, 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 essential to change your set ideas and consider buying in small stores nearby. Use some of these tips and see how you can make a difference in your area.

1.        Purchase gift vouchers or presents from stores in your neighbourhood.

2.        Buy merchandise in your vicinity for all services – fresh produce, hairdresser, florist, restaurants, etc.

3.        Whenever possible, choose local: garden services, dry cleaners, the garage for petrol, the gym, market, coffee shop, bakeries, etc.

4.        Think before you shop. Are you about to spend your cash on a supplier who works nearby, or is the store a national or international chain?

5.        Shop around. You’ll find that when you shop within your neighbourhood, it isn’t always more expensive, despite the personalised service and manufacture. 

Visit Your Local Shops: Here's Why

·       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 competitively by supporting a neighbouring company when the country faces a recession. You’re helping companies create jobs and infrastructure in your vicinity. You are also assisting to create an identity and give your area a unique, distinct personality and culture.

·       Every Pound matters: Your spending power makes a difference in the neighbourhood, 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 neighbourhood, 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 area prosper. After all, transporting food across the UK costs the country about 35% in carbon emissions. The closer you are to a food supplier, the better.

·       You’re fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. You ensure your neighbourhood can create innovative, bespoke products and services. You’re also generating income for the area so it can thrive.

·       Purchasing from businesses in your neighbourhood offers you a much more enjoyable experience, one that is personal, too.

Benefits of Stores Close to Home

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 ensure you’re happy with your purchases.

3.        Compared to items manufactured in bulk, products from a neighbourhood store 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 entire area 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 mill based in NW London, and we are happy to accommodate pick-ups instead of deliveries to reduce our carbon footprint. 

We Support Great Britain

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 or waste. As we mentioned, we encourage carbon emission reduction with free pick-up services.

To add to this, our fabric printing uses zero water and less energy than a fan heater – 95% less energy than traditional textile printing. We also power up with 100% renewable energy. 

The inks we use for printing on fabric are all Oeko-Tex and GOTS 6.0 certified, ensuring safety even in children's products. Our fabrics pass stringent EN71-3 certification and are formaldehyde-free.

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

Shop Locally

As a part of our business model, maake is committed to supporting small and medium UK businesses. Shop Small is a nationwide movement that celebrates small businesses daily and helps communities thrive and stay vibrant. By using small businesses, you show your support for your local community.

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

maake Does Things Differently 

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

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:

· A local, sustainably-minded fabric producer supplies us with fabric for you to print on. Alternatively, we are happy for you to provide your own.

· Our on-demand sustainable printing is fast. It takes between two to five days from ordering to receiving your confirmation. That’s what the ‘shop local’ campaign 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 be more 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 have grown 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