The Small Business Revival: How Supporting Local Is Changing Our Cities

Enough with big box retailers with hiked up margins, it is time to have a return to the routes of our commerce. It’s time to talk about the revival of small businesses.

In Ireland pre-1960s, the stores in which Ireland consisted were the local grocers and butchers. Small independently ran stores and businesses that relied on the local community as much as the community needed them. This changed in the economic boom of the 1990s where many global businesses and corporations expanded their operations in Ireland due to its proximity to the European market and its low taxations. These businesses set themselves up within and around newly developed and existing communities and towns. This destroyed the local businesses as the prices of chain retail stores with cheaper prices. 

Yet we are now at a point where customer satisfaction is at an all time low while retail chains keep things at a constant level of sameness. This idea of sameness is now affecting the local identity of places, as these businesses implant themselves within and offer little support to local communities. From clothing stores offering unsustainable clothing to questionable fast food places, it is getting people to question the roles in which they place themselves in. From out of country online shopping puts a division on ourselves and our surroundings.

Now many people have switched to supporting the local community and its stores. As the understanding alone that the money from local businesses can and will go back into the community, which leads to a circular economy within these communities. To know that the money would not be going to a business entity in another country alone, is more than enough for many to support the switch to local businesses. Especially in such an economically stressful time in the world.

Many independent businesses and stores have now popped up all over Ireland in response to the change. There are now many alternatives to shopping and supporting local businesses because It not only supports smaller communities. It also highlights the importance of Irish independence economically and culturally.  By shopping locally it brings a community together for all who partake within it.

 Written by Niall Carey (@Niall.030)

 Edited by Alex Kelleher (@alex_kelleher_)