7 Reasons to do Business in Venice
Anyone who lives here knows that VeniceFlorida is a very special community. Small, locally owned businesses are the economic backbone and strength of any community. It is my hope that TheVeniceBridge.com will help you get to know more locally owned businesses so that you will support them.
Of course no one can always get what they need through a local business, not even a local business itself! Just simply support local businesses FIRST when you can. Here are seven good reasons to do business locally. If everyone in Venice spent even just ten percent more of their money with local businesses it would make a huge difference in our community.
1. It Helps Keep Venice Unique - Fortunately Venice is still very unique, that is because most all of the businesses on the Island, as well as many others around town are locally owned. These are an absolutely essential part of the distinctive character of Venice. You can help keep it that way by always making locally owned independent businesses your first choice.
2. It Helps Protect Our Environment - Locally owned businesses are often downtown or in small neighborhood commercial centers which have a smaller environmental impact. Locally owned businesses will also often reuse existing facilities or previously developed land in a community, which is also good for the environment.
Large corporations coming in with things like big box stores however will most often insist on new construction on undeveloped land. This provides some short term construction jobs, but it has long term negative effects on the environment by increasing sprawl and the use of resources by shoppers to get to these businesses.
3. It Keeps More Money Here to Grow Our Local Economy - Research shows that for every $100 spent in a chain business only $14 stays in the local economy. Yet for every $100 spent in a locally owned business $45 - $68 stays here in Venice.
4. It Brings You Better Customer Service and Selection - Local owners have a stake in their Venice business that large national and multi-national corporations just don’t have. If a large corporation closes a local store it may have very little impact on, or even improve their profits. If a local owner closes, they are out of business.
Therefore local owners are far more likely to care and excel in areas such as customer service than large corporation is. Even if a local manager of a large chain cares, most of how they do business is set by the corporation and is outside their control. A locally owned business is also far more flexible and able to meet your needs.
5. It Makes The Community Stronger - In addition to reducing the tax burden by not requiring as much infrastructure and public services as sprawling big box stores, local business owners tend to be big advocates for local community causes that corporations with hundreds to thousands of locations are not likely to be aware of.
6. It Promotes Tourism - According to Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust, “When people go on Vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them a sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” While familiarity has it’s place with nationally known brands, the unique character of Venice brings in many tourist dollars that would not exist if it was just like everyplace else.
7. It Helps Your Options in Venice Remain Diverse and Friendly - While most local businesses are smaller they are also more diversified. Your freedom of choice in the selection of goods is severely limited when a few buyers for national chains in big cities in other states choose what reaches you.
Sometimes it’s next to impossible to get a hold of a human on the phone to take care of your needs with large corporations. Supporting locally owned businesses supports the friendly, personal, neighborly interaction that helps keep Venice the special, friendly place you enjoy living in.
Of course no one can always get what they need through a local business, not even a local business itself! Just simply support local businesses FIRST when you can. Here are seven good reasons to do business locally. If everyone in Venice spent even just ten percent more of their money with local businesses it would make a huge difference in our community.
1. It Helps Keep Venice Unique - Fortunately Venice is still very unique, that is because most all of the businesses on the Island, as well as many others around town are locally owned. These are an absolutely essential part of the distinctive character of Venice. You can help keep it that way by always making locally owned independent businesses your first choice.
2. It Helps Protect Our Environment - Locally owned businesses are often downtown or in small neighborhood commercial centers which have a smaller environmental impact. Locally owned businesses will also often reuse existing facilities or previously developed land in a community, which is also good for the environment.
Large corporations coming in with things like big box stores however will most often insist on new construction on undeveloped land. This provides some short term construction jobs, but it has long term negative effects on the environment by increasing sprawl and the use of resources by shoppers to get to these businesses.
3. It Keeps More Money Here to Grow Our Local Economy - Research shows that for every $100 spent in a chain business only $14 stays in the local economy. Yet for every $100 spent in a locally owned business $45 - $68 stays here in Venice.
4. It Brings You Better Customer Service and Selection - Local owners have a stake in their Venice business that large national and multi-national corporations just don’t have. If a large corporation closes a local store it may have very little impact on, or even improve their profits. If a local owner closes, they are out of business.
Therefore local owners are far more likely to care and excel in areas such as customer service than large corporation is. Even if a local manager of a large chain cares, most of how they do business is set by the corporation and is outside their control. A locally owned business is also far more flexible and able to meet your needs.
5. It Makes The Community Stronger - In addition to reducing the tax burden by not requiring as much infrastructure and public services as sprawling big box stores, local business owners tend to be big advocates for local community causes that corporations with hundreds to thousands of locations are not likely to be aware of.
6. It Promotes Tourism - According to Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust, “When people go on Vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them a sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” While familiarity has it’s place with nationally known brands, the unique character of Venice brings in many tourist dollars that would not exist if it was just like everyplace else.
7. It Helps Your Options in Venice Remain Diverse and Friendly - While most local businesses are smaller they are also more diversified. Your freedom of choice in the selection of goods is severely limited when a few buyers for national chains in big cities in other states choose what reaches you.
Sometimes it’s next to impossible to get a hold of a human on the phone to take care of your needs with large corporations. Supporting locally owned businesses supports the friendly, personal, neighborly interaction that helps keep Venice the special, friendly place you enjoy living in.
Do business first with locally owned business and help keep Venice unique.
We hope this site will be helpful to you in finding locally owned small businesses that you like. Read our Small Business Interviews often to get to know locally owned businesses better.
Show your support for local businesses by asking for an “I $hop Local” sticker when you are at Nifty Nic Nacs in downtown Venice.
“I $hop Local” stickers available at:
Nifty Nic Nacs
203 West Venice Avenue
Venice, FL 34285
Show your support for local businesses by asking for an “I $hop Local” sticker when you are at Nifty Nic Nacs in downtown Venice.
“I $hop Local” stickers available at:
Nifty Nic Nacs
203 West Venice Avenue
Venice, FL 34285