Why Buy Local

Top Eight Reasons to Buy Local

  1. It keeps dollars in Santa Monica’s economy, supporting our schools, parks and vital community services. For every $100 spent at a Santa Monica business, as much as $70 stays in the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditure (Civic Economics, 2008).  Spending locally ensures that your sales taxes are reinvested right here in Santa Monica.

  2. It helps the environment. Buying local reduces your carbon footprint. Having a diverse range of businesses within walking or biking distance reduces the amount of driving you need to do, lessens traffic and air pollution and helps to conserve land.

  3. It creates and keeps local jobs. Local businesses prefer to hire local.  They create jobs in the community for people of all ages.  Many of our Buy Local businesses are owned by locals, too!

  4. It helps to keep us unique. Santa Monica is a city of neighborhoods, each with a town center comprised of businesses that are diverse and distinctive.

  5. It nurtures our community.  Our local businesses are committed to investing in Santa Monica, donating to charitable causes, actively getting involved in the community and helping to support our schools, local events and festivals.

  6. It creates more choice. Local businesses respond to their customers and have freedom to choose the items they sell. They often carry a wider array of unique products that are locally-made or produced. If you don’t see what you want or need, ask!

  7. It spurs entrepreneurs, the lifeblood of California’s economy.

  8. It’s fun! Explore Santa Monica.  Discover what our local businesses have to offer.  Meet your neighbors. 

Buy Local key messages:

  • With each purchase made close to home or work you make an investment in our local economy, save time, and reduce your carbon footprint.

  • The City has 6,645 businesses employing over 80,000 people.

  • It’s personal!   Chances are that many of our local business owners and staff are your friends and neighbors.  They live in Santa Monica, support other local businesses by eating, shopping and playing here, and reinvest their money in Santa Monica.

  • Convenience. We’ve got much of what you need right here in Santa Monica (from apples to zippers, business services to household conveniences, etc). You probably don’t need to hop in your car and drive all over LA.

  • Chances are we have it here. Think local first.

  • Make a difference.  With every local purchase, you make a difference.  Your patronage impacts the local economy, the viability of our town centers, the sustainability of our community, and the health of our schools and vital city services.  THANK YOU FOR BUYING LOCAL & MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY! 

To find out more about the benefits of supporting local businesses, visit: http://www.livingeconomies.org/aboutus/resources-and-studies.