Connecting, supporting, and growing independent businesses to strengthen and enrich our community.
Shop Local Raleigh is all about promoting & supporting locally-owned, independent businesses. It’s about making your hard-earned money go further, fueling the local economy, & helping to preserve the unique character of Raleigh.
You might wonder if “buy local” organizations like Shop Local Raleigh can really make a difference. It’s been proven they can! A national survey of independent retailers found that a strong local alliance boosted holiday sales in 2007 – reporting an average increase of 2% over the 2006 holiday season, while those in cities without “buy local” campaigns saw an increase of less than 0.5%.
What if Raleigh consumers spent more dollars in favor of locally owned and operated businesses, instead of corporations, big-box, and chain stores? First, significantly more money re-circulates in our local counties when purchases are made at locally owned businesses. Local businesses, the largest employer nationally, provide the most new jobs to residents and produce more income. Supporting local businesses is good for the economy because it cuts down on shipping goods and fuel consumption, as well as preserves our communities and unique neighborhoods.
As local economist Dr. Michael Walden puts it, “buying local can be a ‘win-win’ for the retailer and for the economy at large.”
Locally owned? We’re here for you. SLR is the only nonprofit in town that represents local business through advocacy, marketing, connecting the community and more. We’re sort of like a chamber of commerce but we’re also the only organization that markets our members directly to consumers through shoplocalraleig.org, social media and newsletters. Our members tell the true story…see what they have to say about being a part of Shop Local Raleigh!
