Are you looking for clothing, handmade goods, home decor, pet supplies or art and prints? Shopping at your local businesses might be the answer you’re looking for. Local companies offer personal attention to solve customer problems in ways big corporations cannot.
Products from local businesses are often more durable than those from large corporations. Smaller businesses prioritize durability and customer satisfaction. Meanwhile, large corporations focus on lowering costs and increasing production volume.
Small businesses play a significant role in the local economy by creating jobs, recirculating money within the community and contributing to the city’s character.
Brooke Barrett, a junior toxicology major, reflects on the impact of local businesses.
“Local businesses genuinely care about the community around them and directly help the local economy,” Barrett said. “To support these businesses, we can shop locally, visit their stores more often, and volunteer to help out.”
Kyle Roberts, co-publisher of the Lincoln Parish Journal, emphasizes the importance of local businesses to the community.
“When you see a brick-and-mortar small business in a downtown area, you likely see a healthy infrastructure of schools and amenities available to the public at large,” Roberts said. “This is because small businesses are more likely to keep tax dollars local.”
Recently, Monroe hosted its annual Celtic Festival and Downtown Gallery Crawl, both of which showcase the work of local artists and vendors.
The Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival, held in West Monroe, celebrates Celtic culture through music, dance and food. Local businesses and artists, invited by event coordinators, set up stalls if they offered original, handmade work.
Every month, local artists and businesses line the streets Downtown for the Gallery Crawl. The event celebrates the work of local artists while highlighting locally owned shops, businesses and eateries.
Both the Celtic Festival and the Downtown Gallery Crawl aim to support artists and businesses around Monroe.
To learn more about local artists and businesses, visit the City of Monroe’s website at https://monroela.us/