We have seen a lot of shop local campaigns in different articles and also right here on the GHC site.  They are a great idea and we hope to see many more started soon, but did you know that these not only can help your store and your local community prosper, but they can also help the environment and decrease your customer's carbon footprint?

In a recent article online which showcases local stores, this point was brought up and it made us think.  

This article lists 60 businesses locally owned and operated in Indianapolis.  Its focus is to promote a shop local campaign and in doing so, it made readers aware that not only will they help their economy, but they can help their environment. "By patronizing a locally owned business, you'll get personalized service and quality products while also boosting your local economy and preserving the environment. With this guide, going local now means much more than making a weekly trip to the farmers market."

After reading through the countless stores the article mentioned, we started to think, do our retailers on the GHC know about the environmental benefits?  So we did a little research for you that might help your own community start a "Shop Local and Stay GREEN" campaign of your own.  And in fact we found some great facts from down under!  An Australian publication recently reported on the large carbon footprint many consumers had by shopping outside of their local area. To read the full article visit here.

One of the most inspiring and shocking facts from the article was a finding that, "shoppers who travelled outside their local area to make their purchases were robbing local businesses of up to $92 billion a year in revenue."

That is a lot of revenue!  And an important fact when thinking of starting a Shop Local Campaign to save some Green and help preserve some Green!

The study also found that, "The trips which caused the most greenhouse gas emissions were ones to buy clothing and takeaway food."

Basically when it comes to reducing your customer's carbon footprint when shopping, suggest the following to your customer:

"The best thing you can do is walk to your local shop. If you can't do that, use public transport if it's available. If you have to make a trip in your car, at least make it a short one.  Even if people are jumping in the car to make that short trip in their local area, it's a lot better in terms of emissions than actually travelling out of your suburb to make that purchase."

Using this logic could help you gain more local customers.  Making your customers aware of their imprint on the World is important.  You may be the only source they have for this information and it may just change their habits. 

Finally, the article points out that consumers need to be aware of more than just how they are getting to their shopping destination, but also what exactly they are buying.  This applies to retailers as well.  "It's all well and good to physically shop locally, but you also need to be looking at buying local produce.  It's no good if you then go and buy something that's been imported from another country, because all the savings you're making are going to be negated by ... all the miles that have been done to import that product."

Overall, it's a mix of making your customers aware of how their shopping habits are affecting the environment and the community and then educating them on what they can do to help.  So think about a shop local campaign for your community, not only can it help business, but you can also feel good about it because you will be helping your environment as well.