Lots to Love About Shopping Local

By JoAnne Laffey Abed

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If you’re reading this, you share our passion for shopping local in Greenville, South Carolina. Like us, you probably love the thrill of finding something unique and special that conveys who and what our city is a about – it might be the perfect gift, a small personal indulgence, or even something that will remind someone who misses or needs to know more about our hometown of the charms of the Upstate.  But, while local shopping and supporting small businesses in Greenville can be a fun diversion or a mini treasure hunt, many of us never really stop to consider how important it is to our local economy.

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When you buy from a large chain, the profits are distributed elsewhere, but local shopping ensures that more money stays here in Greenville, supporting other local businesses, improving infrastructure, driving greater investment, creating jobs, and investing in the community both socially and economically.

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More than $9.3 billion would be directly returned to our economy if every U.S. family spent just $10 a month at a local business.

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‍According to a recent study by HuffPost, more than $9.3 billion would be directly returned to our economy if every U.S. family spent just $10 a month at a local business. That same study also found that local small businesses generate 70% more local economic activity per square foot than big box retail stores.  Simply put, local small business is a big deal for Greenville and those who call it home.

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Because local small businesses ship significantly less than large retailers and online giants, shopping locally is also much more environmentally friendly. If you consider that retail-related shipping contributes roughly one-fourth of most countries’ total carbon emissions, you can understand why taking a quick drive down Main Street or over to Augusta Road is not just a great way to spend an afternoon, it’s also the right thing to do.

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Another recent study from small business group SCORE demonstrates an additional and powerful positive impact of shopping locally: increased local charitable giving. SCORE found that small locally owned businesses donate 250 percent more on average to local causes and organizations than larger national competitors.  That means that buying a dress from a hometown Greenville store or a piece of pottery from a local artisan increases support for the Greenville charities and issues you and your family care most about and the ones that do the greatest good right here in our backyard.

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With all this in mind, it’s no wonder that shopping local in Greenville and across the country is on the rise.  Surcee exists to help connect our thrilling and thriving Greenville businesses with the people who want to support them.  The Surcee Squad is all-in on creating the website, gift guides, product features, and small business spotlights  that will help you find what’s new, what’s next, what’s hip and what’s HERE.

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We’re your one-stop shop for not only finding exactly what you’re looking for but helping you make our Greenville an even better place.

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