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Buy local, Sell local = Small Biz Opportunity

By Becky McCray

Buying local is a growing trend and a significant opportunity for small town small businesses.

Local Food

Food-borne illnesses have made headlines from huge commercial production and from imported foods. Local food producers of all kinds should capitalize on this opportunity. Jack Schultz, Boomtown USA, gave local food two spots on his Agurban top ten trends for 2007. And he continues to talk about this opportunity for local foods.

Other local products

Lead tainted paint, safety problems, and environmental issues have created another local opportunity for all types of products. Chris Penn, Financial Aid Podcast, has been meditating on local products, and he’s not alone. Steven E. Streight, Vaspers, has been ranting against China imports and in favor of local sourcing. They are just two people, but they are from completely different parts of the country. They represent a way of thinking that exists right now in your market.

Actions

Evaluate your marketing. Are you promoting the heck out of your “localness”? It’s time to start.
Be more local. Don’t hide your local flavor, your accent, all the things that make you, your company and your product feel local. Flaunt it!
Promote the environmental benefit. Buying local products reduces the transportation costs to the environment.
Promote your local advantages: high quality local workforce, safety procedures, and strict standards. For once, be glad of the regulations you must comply with.

Part of surviving in a small town small business is competing with the world. This is one trend that gives you an advantage. Use it!

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About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
  • Zoom Towns: attracting and supporting remote workers in rural small towns - December 10, 2020
  • In an economic crisis, spend your brainpower before your dollars - November 25, 2020
  • Video: How to fill empty car dealership buildings for the holidays - November 6, 2020
  • How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
  • The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
  • Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
  • Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
  • Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
  • Huge vacant buildings: grants to renovate? - June 9, 2020
  • Economic self defense for small towns  - June 7, 2020

August 27, 2007 Filed Under: global, ideas, marketing, trends

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Comments

  1. Christopher says

    August 27, 2007 at 1:51 am

    The personal relationship is indeed what will help a local business compete against the conglomerate. The tools for local awareness are greater than ever. Local business listings, for example, are free on Google Local Search.

  2. Becky McCray says

    August 27, 2007 at 2:02 am

    Chris, thanks for coming by to comment. I appreciate your inspiration for this post. Local search is a great addition to this list, also. Thanks!

  3. Marti says

    August 27, 2007 at 2:05 am

    Excellent post, Becky! Great ideas for local companies, and taking a negative (the problems with imports) and turning them into positives (more opportunities for local businesses) You’re the best!

  4. Becky McCray says

    August 27, 2007 at 2:37 am

    Thanks, Marti! You are the best at encouraging!

  5. steven edward streight says

    August 27, 2007 at 7:47 pm

    Hey lady, thanks for linking to me. I am quite outspoken about the lack of quality controls in Red China.

    I also dislike doing any business with a totalitarian regime that is anti-Christian, anti-democracy, and anti-criticism.

    We boycott Cuba, Iran, N. Korea, Syria, etc. as ideological enemies and sponsors of terrorism. So why trade with Commie China?

  6. steven edward streight says

    August 27, 2007 at 7:49 pm

    Thanks Chris for that info on free local listings on Google Local Search. Will look into that.

  7. steven edward streight says

    August 27, 2007 at 7:55 pm

    Check out the Eat Local Challenge blog.

    Eat Local Challenge

  8. Becky McCray says

    August 27, 2007 at 8:15 pm

    Thanks, Steven, not just for coming by to comment, but also for finding the Eat Local Challenge. An excellent link to this topic!

  9. dana_wallert says

    September 4, 2007 at 5:24 pm

    It never ceases to amaze me that people don’t take the time to really market themselves locally even when their business is national or virtual.

    I can’t tell you how many out of town/state clients I have that when I contacted them said you know, I prefer to do business locally, but no one has ever offered me website services or worse, they won’t call me back!

  10. Becky McCray says

    September 4, 2007 at 5:54 pm

    Amen, Dana! Glad you stopped by!

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