The Importance of Buying Local in St. Louis

It is no secret that we are full of St. Louis pride and are passionate about supporting our local community here at Dogtown Pizza. Studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned businesses, more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers, and farms. This domino effect leads to a stronger local economy, more community character, and a lower environmental impact.

Supporting Your Neighbors and Their Businesses

A lot of people seem to think that business owners at the local level are wealthy and buying their product won’t matter to their bottom line or the local economy. This is simply incorrect. Buying local creates more revenue for St. Louis as a whole. A Chicago study found that for every $100 you spend at locally owned businesses, $68 will stay in the community. But when you spend that same $100 at a national chain, only $43 stays in the community.

Building Community Character

Independent, locally owned businesses shape a community by giving it personality. They offer unique experiences for regular customers and tourists alike. Having restaurants, shops, products and cafes that cannot be found in every city in the country is what makes a community special. If you decide to buy locally in St. Louis, you’ll find items like locally made clothing, unique art, and foods that you can only get here. For example, let’s say you have a couple of guests come to town and want to host a pizza and movie night. Instead of grabbing one of those generic frozen pizzas that your friends can get anywhere, pick up a St. Louis-style Dogtown Pizza. Chances are your guests haven’t had our pizza before, and you know that your purchase will go to a family owned, local business that puts money back into the local economy.

Getting Better Customer Service

Local businesses operate on a smaller scale which translates to better customer service. We all know that getting a large corporation to help you out as a customer can be a nightmare. If you buy local and have a problem or question, you are more likely to get the attention you need faster because you are buying from people you see at school conferences, church, or grocery stores. A huge benefit of buying local is that you know where your product is coming from and can trust that your neighborhood business owners have your best interest in mind.

Lowering Environmental Impact

Buying goods from local businesses can decrease environmental impact by reducing food miles. Buying local cuts down on fuel consumption and air pollution because the products do not have to endure lengthy air travel or 1500 mile truck rides. For those who are striving to live a more sustainable lifestyle, buying local is a step in the right direction.

At Dogtown Pizza, we want to build a stronger community and feel that buying local products is a critical factor in achieving that goal.

Where are your favorite local spots to shop in St. Louis? Let us know in the comments below!