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As a Chico local, I have really come to admire the entrepreneurial nature of our community – not to mention the many blessings I reap from their creative endeavors. Our town is saturated with locally owned and operated businesses. Walk in to any of these shops and you’ll see the owner getting their hands dirty, just like the rest of them! As you drive out of town the roads are lined with crops grown by hard working farmers who are feeding the world. This is a city of passionate people and being a part of this community just makes me feel good, you know?

Recently the Young Professionals Organization (YPO) hosted a Q&A panel of local entrepreneurs. They shared their collective wisdom and personal experiences when it came to building a business. I personally enjoyed learning about their passions and how they’re serving the people of Chico, and beyond. They too are being served in return. Within our community they have found consumers, mentors, supporters, employees, and so much more!

There are many reasons to shop local, but here are Six Benefits for You and Your Community From Supporting Local Entrepreneurs:

1. Improve your family’s health – farm to table! Can it get any fresher? There are so many ways to get your hands on foods from local farmers. We have two year-round farmers’ markets and one seasonal, plus many shops carry local foods.
2. Improve the local economy – if it’s bought local, a higher percentage of that money stays local. “Local business owners often have incentive to support otherlocal businesses...” I know this to be true! Many of my favorite shops sell or use other local products, which creates a greater attraction to shop.
3. Know the people behind the product – CN&R does “Best of Chico” every year where majority of the first place winners are locally owned businesses, because we know the people and we know its quality. Check out last year’s winners here!
4. Keep your community unique – “Local businesses give a community its flavor…By supporting those businesses instead of chains, you ensure that uniqueness is preserved as a part of your community.”
5. Better customer service – whether you want to rant or a rave, you know you’ll be heard. These hands-on owners have more exposure in day-to-day operations and know what’s going on.
6. More personalized service – “Having the owner nearby also means that owner personally knows his customers. He knows the products you buy or the services you request on a regular basis and can tailor services to make your experience even better.”

Although I do not own a business, I fully support those that do. I’ve worked with several locally owned businesses and seen the hard work that goes into creating something valuable, and ultimately successful. There is no shame in shopping at a chain, but when you live in a city as innovative as Chico, it’s fun to shop local!

About the Author
Janae Swartz is a consultant with Morrison, working primarily in our People Solutions practice. To get in touch with Janae, please find contact information for Morrison here.