Supporting Local Businesses with Your Furry Friend: How to Shop Local with Your Pet this Season

Your local pet store is a fantastic resource, as the staff is trained on the products they offer and genuinely cares about helping you do what’s best for your pet. They’ll be a one-stop shop for every pet on your list. Here are 8 reasons to shop local and support your local pet store:

Boost the local economy

One of the biggest reasons to Shop Local is to keep more of your money in the place where you live. Statistically speaking, for every $100 spent at a national chain, only $43 is put back into the community. On the other hand, for every $100 spent at a locally-owned business, $68 recirculates into the local economy.

By shopping at one local store, you’re indirectly helping other local businesses thrive by boosting the economy of the whole area.

Support local charities

The good effects of shopping locally don’t stop at one store. They’re paid forward into the charitable organizations doing important work in the area.

Local businesses are invested in and care about the community and are much more generous than large chains. It’s estimated that small businesses donate 250% more per sales dollar to local nonprofits and community causes than larger businesses do.

Better service for you

The owners of your local pet-centric businesses are fellow pet parents who take great pride in their stores, and you can feel it in the service you receive.

The owners of independent pet stores make it a priority to hire staff who share the same passion for pets. They’re knowledgeable, genuinely concerned about your pet’s well-being, and often willing to go the extra mile to get you the right information or product you need to take care of your pet. While big chains may carry more generic brands, local retailers often have a better selection of higher quality pet food and toys or locally made products.

It’s more fun!

When you shop locally, it’s not just about the products themselves. It’s about the overall experience — especially if you bring your pet. There’s nothing quite like the joy of letting your pet pick out their present.

Four Additional Ways to Support Your Local Pet Store

Leave them a good review online

If you’ve ever searched for a store or business on Google, you’ll immediately notice the store’s Google Reviews on the right-hand side of the page. Those reviews — and others on Yelp and similar websites — can make or break a business, often determining whether the searcher will step into the store.

Studies show that 97% of consumers search online for a local business, and 73% of searchers trust a local business more because of positive reviews. And it’s not like we mind leaving reviews — the same study found 68% of customers were happy to leave a local business review when asked.

If you had a good experience, leaving a positive and honest Google Review can make a huge difference for your store and only take a few minutes of your time.

Engage with them on social media

Another easy way to support your local pet retailer is to engage with them on social media! Tag your retailer in a picture of the goodies you bought, retweet them or comment on their posts.

It may feel like a small thing, but visitors to your store’s social media pages will see your interaction and gain a good impression of your local pet retailer as a result. When you interact with your local pet store online, it shows that this store makes their customers happy enough to want to talk about their experiences on social media and also that the store themselves are open and approachable.

Attend special events

Many local independent pet retailers will host special events, such as Adopt-a-thons with local rescues or speakers and presentations. Attend these events to show your support. Who knows? You might learn something interesting or even meet a new furry friend!

Tell your friends!

And finally, despite all of the recent advances in technology, sometimes it doesn’t get better than word-of-mouth. If you had a great experience at your local independent pet store, tell your friends, family, and fellow pet owners about it.

It’s shown that hearing a recommendation from someone you know and trust carries much more weight than hearing it from a stranger. Even if you only talk to a few people, at least one of them will go check it out.

By supporting your local pet store, you’re doing good things for your community and for your pets.

For more information on Vital Essentials and our full product line, follow us on TikTok and Instagram. And if you have any questions, be sure to check out our FAQ page for answers. Together, we can ensure your pet gets the proper nutrition they deserve.