Next time you consider buying CBD at your favorite vendor or website, take a moment to consider the benefits of buying local because there’s a good chance you’ll find great deals right in your own neighborhood.
The arrival of COVID-19 has had devastating societal and economic effects around the world, but nowhere has it hit harder than Main Street USA where many of our friends and families now struggle to make ends meet. That’s why there’s no better time than now to consider supporting your favorite local CBD business online, especially given that current restrictions prevent shopping in person at most stores.
And why not? It’s no secret that U.S. consumers love shopping online where, for the past several years, gargantuan amounts of money have been spent with the click of a mouse.
In fact, almost $587 billion was spent on e-commerce during 2019 alone. But much of that revenue is spent on products made outside of the U.S. and doesn’t help support the small, local businesses, which account for about 64 percent of new private-sector jobs.
By shopping local CBD vendors online, you’re supporting local jobs and, in some cases, helping small CBD vendors from closing their doors forever. Further, it’s a critical time to support the growing hemp oil industry until the COVID-19 crisis is gone and business can return to somewhat normal operations.
Right now, about 17 U.S. states allow hemp farms, many of which are small businesses, to provide hemp to manufacturers that process it into
hemp oil,
edibles, and other
CBD-infused products. Since most of these farms and manufacturers are in rural areas, they create a ripple effect supporting local economies.
If you’re considering buying CBD from a vendor because you think it’s less expensive or more convenient, think again. There’s a good chance you may find the same items and prices online from a local source near your home. Here are a few reasons why you should consider buying local.
Support Neighborhood Identity
If you’re familiar with New York’s Greenwich Village or the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, you are likely aware that they are a mecca for shoppers seeking unique, hard-to-find goods, trendy boutiques, and exotic cuisines. Buying CBD in your local neighborhood not only supports local merchants but also helps sustain the unique identity of the neighborhood.
Shop owners and their employees rely on foot traffic generated from consumers visiting multiple stores in the area and who know that they can find unique products and services that collectively shape the community's character. However, much of that foot traffic has come to a halt thanks to restrictions resulting from COVID-19. You can do your part supporting neighborhood identity by shopping those same CBD vendors online for the time being.
Keep in mind that one-of-a-kind businesses are the engine powering community uniqueness ― something chain stores typically can’t do.
Helps Keep Money in the Community
When you buy hemp oil products locally, you are part of a chain reaction that helps support many other local businesses and their employees who rely on each other to keep the local economy vibrant.
Many local CBD retailers hire local help to run their shops and contribute to those employees’ ability to spend locally, keeping more money in the local economy.
Studies show when you buy products such as CBD locally, about 75 percent of the money is re-spent locally, helping raise local economic activity, providing jobs, and building the tax base ― benefiting local businesses and the community at large.
The coronavirus pandemic has put a lot of pressure on local business owners to reduce staff due to less consumer spending. But you can help keep money in the community by shopping local CBD vendors online until the crisis is over.
Reduce Environmental Impact and Support Community Groups
Did you know that when you source CBD locally, you are contributing to reducing overall environmental impact? That’s because you’re not driving as much to buy CBD, thereby producing less of a carbon footprint and contributing to a healthy and sustainable place to live.
Consider that when you buy online, you’re further helping keep things green by not driving around the entire city emitting lots of pollutants into the air. The more people who follow suit, the cleaner the environment.
Your local CBD retailer may have a program whereby they’ll match your donations to local non-profits, sports teams, or other worthwhile causes. Nonprofit organizations receive an average of 350% more support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses.
By spending locally, you’re helping friends and neighbors who may need the financial boost you helped provide by shopping online local CBD vendors.
Get Better Service
Local businesses tend to hire staff with a better understanding of the CBD products they sell. Oftentimes, local business owners spend more time in their retail space and have more to invest in training employees for better product knowledge and customer service.
They want you to come back and refer other customers so they’re going to go above and beyond to ensure that you have the best customer experience possible. Chances are that a well-run CBD business will also extend to the same quality customer experience online as you might get in person.
Negotiate a Better Deal
There are some people who are better at making deals than others. Even if you are not good at wheeling and dealing, chances are you may be able to get a better deal if you ask for it. Online prices for CBD vary depending on the vendor and
hemp oil concentration.
Chances are that local CBD retailers don’t want to keep too much inventory on hand. They are going to want to sell and replace inventory with new or different products. By doing your homework and comparing legitimate deals you saw online, you may be able to get the store to match prices or do better than other online CBD vendors.
Another benefit of shopping at your local CBD retailer is when they have sales. Stay vigilant and keep in touch with the store. You may be able to provide your email address and have the store notify you about discounts or when they plan on having sales.
There is a growing movement toward local businesses supporting Small Business Saturday. It’s held the Saturday following Thanksgiving and dedicated to promoting local business during the busiest shopping times of the year. It’s likely a good day to see what online deals are being offered.
The Takeaway
During times of crisis, it’s even more important to support local communities and the businesses operating in them. While it may not be possible to take a leisurely stroll downtown during the COVID-19 crisis, online shopping may be an option.
Buying local and supporting local CBD retailers tends to have a ripple effect that transcends the actual purchase of the CBD products you purchase. The community, and the individuals living in it, tend to benefit in terms of economy and quality of life in some cases.
Buying hemp oil products locally can also help support local jobs, may have a positive effect on the environment, and may support community groups. As with any product ― online or otherwise ― it’s important to do your homework.
Know what it is you are buying. Make sure the hemp oil and CBD-infused products are manufactured under high standards and contain exactly what the label says is in the bottle. Some contain less CBD than advertised, while others are manufactured with less-than-ideal quality control processes in place.
Oliver’s Harvest CBD products are manufactured from hemp grown on organic farms and are third-party lab tested for quality and purity. Look for the next time you shop online.
