Shopping small is fantastic – clearly – since I have a whole blog about it. There’s no better feeling and process than supporting a small business owner. Seeing the joy of a local artist or maker have their work be loved and shared. Knowing that your money is being used to directly impact real people, families, homes and your own neighborhood and city in which you live, is a great feeling. With all things in life there are pros and cons. As much as I hate to admit it, there are actually downsides to shopping small. I’m a “real deal” kinda person and must be genuine, which brings me to this post: chatting about some of the downsides to supporting local and small biz.
I want to preface this post by saying that this is not a bash on anyone or small and local businesses in general, but just sharing my experiences. I am NOT in your shoes at all and have no idea what all goes into running and doing what you do. I really envy you all out there running a shop or making things for others. So please don’t think I’m not appreciative of you all hustling hard out there.
OK – onto the post! 🙂
It can be hard to find what you’re seeking.
I’d say this is the least of all problems, but still a con to keeping your purchase patterns in small and local businesses. For me, I will creep up and down the social media profiles, websites, Etsy shops, etc. and stop into lots of places to keep pushing myself to find what I’m looking for from a local business vs. not, even if it is the most inconvenient way of getting something. Of course, I could definitely find it on Amazon with a couple of clicks and get it in two days with Prime, but that’s not how I roll – shopping this way is not the easy job, but it’s the better one.
A great example of this is my search for the “perfect” natural face serum. I know there are plenty of different makers in Kansas City of bath, beauty and skincare products, but it takes me a while to actually think of all these shops/makers that make or provide these types of products or are in the category, if you will. Then, once I think of a few to check out, I have to actually see if they even make something like this and there’s always the chance that it may not be exactly what I’m looking for. This is all ok, nothing is wrong with what the small businesses and makers are doing or providing, it’s just a much longer process to fill my need than just going to Target to pick something up because I know they’ll have something.
There can also be times where it’s hard find a local business, maker or artist because they don’t have a traditional studio or storefront. Instead, you have to find them at a craft fair, First Fridays or a pop-up shop they are having. However, if you don’t SHARE SHARE SHARE this info on your website, Facebook, Instagram, etc. then it is difficult for people (myself included) to reach you and get your goods we (me!) are trying to purchase.
There can be a higher chance of inconsistent info.
Now, I may be a little critical on this one because this is literally what I do for a living, but there seems to be more inconsistent info with small businesses than ones that aren’t. And personally, it drives me NUTS. Again, this is what I do for a living, so I may be biased.
When searching for a business on Google, typically a map with the location and address, store hours, website, phone number, etc. show up. However, there have been many a times when the store hours on Google vs. what’s mentioned on their Instagram profile or website are wrong and don’t match up – that’s confusing! Sometimes, I can’t even find a place because they don’t have an actual address listed anywhere, but they just mention the cross streets they are near on some social media post – which I then have to go dig up later to find them.
Now, with all of this, this is where I just simply want to educate. I highly encourage any small business owner that has some sort of semi-permanent/physical presence to claim, verify and keep updated (and consistent) your Google My Business listing. It is FREE, easy to use and can help people find you on the web – you could be losing customers by not having your address of where to find your store front, studio, etc. or what times you may be open. I know this isn’t perfect for everyone if you have inconsistent studio hours or something, but still check it out and see what you can do. Even just having a website or Facebook page where you consistently update your available hours and where you’ll be will be a HUGE help.
This is in the same realm of keeping online info updated, but a lot of local and small businesses sell at other places around town and have “stockists.” I get really excited when I see that I can find someone’s products at a storefront, because I’m frugal and hate paying for shipping, plus it’s flat out convenient when I’m out and about. However, there are times when this stockist no longer carries this maker/businesses products and I’m let down. Or, they may carry only one product vs. everything they have to offer. I think a blurb of what you may be able to find at the stockist would be helpful, but I know that may be a lot of work to keep this updated. Again, this is my perfect world and am here to just share some pain points I’ve encountered. 🙂
Lastly on this one, sometimes there are folks who sell on Etsy, in person, on their website and others, but I’ve run into situations where the prices, what’s in stock and available, etc. are different across these. I get a bit confused on what’s actually in stock, what the price is and where should I actually purchase. Driving customers to one online place for purchase (vs. multiple) is huge, while also sharing where customers can purchase in person.
Shipping is annoying (to me) when you are in town.
Like I mentioned earlier, I am frugal and really hate paying for shipping costs, especially when I know the local maker or business tends to be active in craft fairs, pop-ups, etc. around town. Most of the time, I just hold off and wait until I can find them at a fair or some store front I know I’ve seen them at. But for those that aren’t as frequent, and may just come out for “random” First Fridays or something, it can be tough for me to “pull the trigger” and purchase. Now, I am not shy and have reached out to people and asked if we can meet up or something instead of paying for shipping because I know they are in town, but it’s not always that easy, and at the end of the day, when I’m ready to purchase, I’m ready to purchase – unless I know 100% you’ll be out at an event, your studio will be open to the public for a day or available somewhere.
This one may just be me being cheap, but I figure it’s just as annoying for someone to package up and mail out stuff like it is for me to pay for shipping. I think a quick blurb on a website, Etsy shop or anything could do this justice. I’ve even seen some online and Etsy shops with a “pick up locally” feature when checking out online.
Sometimes they can be unreliable sources.
Finally, a source of where you get something or you’ve had your eye on, may not always be available or even exist anymore. Being a small business is tough – you are manning that crazy ship on a small scale and you can get in really high demand really fast and I know it can be hard to keep up. Plus, you may be growing and shifting your business model or what brings you joy to your life and business. I’m not even mentioning the fact that as a small business owner you have a real life with partners, kids, pets, houses, etc. Life just happens some times and I get it.
With this though, comes times where something a customer has been using or been wanting to purchase is just not available at the time they need it. Or a person may have had something saved on Etsy or bookmarked to buy later in the year for Christmas or a birthday and it’s just gone with no replacement or “temporarily out of stock” messaging. If it’s limited run or a limitied edition, then fine – that totally makes sense. But when it’s something that tends to be a “regular” item, that’s what gets me! 😛
A great example from my life is with the local bath/body maker Simple Soul Co.. I had been purchasing this charcoal liquid facial cleaner regularly, about every three months, and I had been through quite a few bottles of it. One day, I went to their website to purchase a new bottle and it wasn’t available, actually nothing on the site was available. So, I thought that was weird and thought, “Well, guess they may be having some problems in production or something, I can check back later.” I checked back a week or so later and the site was no longer up. Ok, that’s weird. Again, I thought, “Well, maybe they were having website problems or making a new site or just pushing online orders elsewhere!”
So, I went to their Instagram (they were fairly active on it) and they hadn’t posted in six months. Their latest post was a typical one from them and there was no mention of them closing, not selling online anymore or anything. It’s like they just vanished. At first, I was really mad. I’m like, “Seriously?! I have been a regular customer for months and you just leave me hanging like that?!” But, I quickly saw past the fact that I had to find an alternative and was so curious as to what happened. I hoped, and still do, everything is OK with them!
Their Instagram is still up, no new posts still and their website link is still there, but it leads to nothing. I’m so sad because I wish I knew what was going on (and I also had to find an alternative to my loved and trusted product I had been using). Part of the reason why buying local is so special to me is that I get to know these people – knowing real humans behind products I use is such a cool thing. I still hope the people behind this business is doing OK and wish them the best of luck. But, moral of the story this story is that communication is key, because even if something unexpected happens, you have an audience and customers depending on you as a business – just be open and honest with them.
I love and support small, and especially local, businesses 1,000%, but I think bringing up pain points can be educational and be opening for all. <3