Modi Ji asked us to be vocal for local. Reasons stating we must.
While addressing the nation at 8 PM on 12th of May, Tuesday, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of consumption of goods and services from local businesses. He believes the empowerment of local businesses as the ultimate solution to boost up the economy badly affected by COVID-19 pandemic.
There are a ton of reasons to go after big brands, namely, quality, service, superiority, class distinction, durability and many more. In addition, India is a country of diverse populations. A good percentage of the population is privileged and possess a fairly good disposable income. They have access to the best information and resources to persuade them to buy premium goods and services which come at a dearer price than those from small businesses.
Why should one actually prefer small business then? What persuades us to buy local? Here are a few reasons that might influence you to go local.
1. Customised Service: Most brands in 2020 is aiming to create a diversified, personalised shopping experience for its customers providing its goods and services with the maximum customisations possible. They claim to cater services tailor-made for you.
This feature some pre-installed with small businesses. They only produce as per your requirement providing a better brand experience. You have the privilege of a variety of customisations when buying local.
2. Connection with business owners: You never know who is behind a big, corporate brand and the people who represent the brand might not be very influential to assist you the best.
However, with small businesses, you can connect with the business owner and be influenced by their story and passion for their business which, in turn, will make them cater you better. You can enjoy a personalised shopping experience when buying local. The small business owners will actually care for you, your family and friends, your likes and dislikes and much more.
3. Upliftment of Culture and Tradition: India being a country rich in its diverse culture and tradition, upliftment and empowerment of those values become crucial. Global brands fail to connect with customers at the local level, and culturally. They even might represent products and services that are similar across countries and may pay little attention to modify as per the cultural trends.
Small businesses, however, represent the cultural and traditional values and you can find it with their product or service experience as well. Is there shame in embracing your roots? And uplifting the people behind it who, despite the global influence has not let it die?
4. Boost of the local economy: The most obvious reason to shop local is to boost the economy of the neighbourhood, city, state and the country you live in. Shopping from global businesses will result in increased salaries of C-Suite employees and an increase in the strength of the enterprise by mergers and acquisitions and cause other impacts that can be altered and provided to a small business owner who needs to earn the money because he has a family to take care of.
The COVID-19 pandemic has done much worse to our neighbourhoods, causing a number of people to die from the disease and many others by starving. If your small action, a simple purchase would be contributed towards something that is local, indigenous, and brings a smile to someone’s face, you are donating enough. Do more of it, every day with every purchase and collect your reward points to be redeemed only later in life.
We, at Marqueting Ventures, are dedicated to supporting small businesses and local brands to rise and are helping them each day achieve their business goals to the best of our abilities.
