Shop small, choose local, support your neighbor–these are all phrases that have been everywhere in recent years. Small businesses are all around us, whether it be the corner store on the end of our street or the restaurant we cannot wait to tell our friends about. In a world where large corporations have always been at the frontlines, there seems to have been a switch for the average American consumer. Small businesses are gaining the recognition they have always deserved, and major companies are receiving the backlash that has been hidden behind the scenes.
Companies are not only places where we consume a product or service, but a place where the consumer should be able to put their trust into. Both consumers and employees are facing a lack of trust when it comes to major name brands within society. Much of this issue is due to both economic reasoning and the workplace environment. In recent years, Americans, approximately 69% due to Bloomberg.com, have started to believe that major companies are prioritizing revenue and shareholder profits over employee or customer well-being. Multiple cases within corporations have been released regarding the cutting of safety inspections, the increase of prices, and overall mistreatment of workers and their health.
When an employee does not feel valued within their workplace, it allows for their work-life balance to suffer. Not only do some workers find themselves working in unsafe or unhealthy conditions, there has been an increase in the number of lay-offs across the board. With the rise of AI and the economic state of the country, major corporations are increasingly cutting the number of staff they have on their teams. A rise in job insecurity further promotes distrust for these corporations causing resentment from the consumer and the worker.
Losing trust in major corporations can leave individuals struggling to figure out where to put their money towards. Small businesses allow for an easier form of trust to be made because there is a closer connection between owner and consumer. These businesses are built by people all around us within our own communities, and Americans have been choosing to shop smaller more often in recent years. A large number of Americans, about 78% according to Pew Research Center, are shopping at small businesses on a regular basis. This is not only the younger generations, Americans of all ages are beginning to utilize the small businesses in their communities–with 41% of ‘Baby Boomers’ and 31% of ‘Gen X’ being more likely to shop small (Pew Research Center).
Small businesses do not just affect its original entrepreneur, but the economy as a whole benefits from their consumption. Our economy is built off of these small businesses, and individuals are attracted to the idea of seeing their community thrive due to their own neighbors. Workers of small businesses report a better work-life balance and have seen much safer conditions. If there is a concerning situation within a small business, it is often easier to be treated than when the corporation has a company ladder of leadership. The trust can be upheld, the community’s economy is boosted internally, and it is easier to see the true impact of these businesses.
Shopping small is not about supporting one individual, but supporting an economy built off those who work hard each day to support their communities.
