Many consumers would really like to support local merchants instead of chains from somewhere else but having a business in the same town is just not enough reason to support a retailer when they fail on so many other levels.
A column by Kim Crow, style editor for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, points out a number of reasons that locals prefer chains to local mom & pop establishments.
On Ms. Crow's list are:
- Store hours - Most locally owned businesses don't have the staff to open as early or close as late as big chains.
- Returns - Chains are better at taking items back than smaller stores. While chains often take returns and refund purchases for 30 days or more, independents may only accept returns during a much shorter window and then only offer a store credit in return.
- Guilt - Some shoppers actually like not being known by store workers. That way they don't feel guilty walking out of a shop without buying anything.
Among the obvious concerns among shoppers not explored in the Plain Dealer column are product selection, price (especially these days), cross-channel shopping options and parking. Many Main Street establishments are simply not convenient to get in and out of.
Discussion Questions: What are the biggest reasons that you think consumers don't patronize local businesses more? What can small retailers do to overcome "objections" that local consumers have to buying in their stores?