Why Buying Local Is an Investment in Your Community
As the holiday season approaches, many people are becoming more mindful of where their money goes – not only in terms of what they purchase, but also in terms of the businesses and individuals with whom they choose to engage.
Over the years, retail has been shaped by a “race to the bottom” – large corporations competing on speed and ultra-low prices, often at the expense of quality and long-term resilience. The result is a marketplace where immediate savings are easy to see, but the broader costs to communities are much easier to overlook.
By contrast, every purchase from a neighborhood shop or locally owned business does more than complete a transaction. It supports the business owner, the local staff on payroll, and the broader network of families who rely on that income. Buying local is not only about keeping money circulating in the local economy; it is also about sustaining livelihoods – real jobs with real people attached to them.
From “Race to the Bottom” to Community Investment
The modern consumer landscape is dominated by big-box retailers and online platforms offering speed, scale, and discounts. While these models excel at efficiency, they often centralize profits and decision-making far from the communities where consumers live.
Local businesses operate differently. They tend to be smaller, more embedded in the community, and more dependent on local relationships. Research from the Urban Institute notes that small businesses account for nearly half of US economic activity and generate about two-thirds of net new jobs, highlighting their outsized role in employment and local wealth-building (Fu et al., 2024).
From this perspective, choosing a local business over a distant retailer is an economic decision that influences the availability and quality of local work.
The Local Multiplier Effect: More Than Just Money Circulating
Studies summarized by the American Independent Business Alliance show that local independent businesses recirculate a significantly larger share of each dollar in their communities. One analysis of several US communities found that roughly 45 – 48% of each purchase at local independents was recirculated locally, compared with around 14% for chain stores (American Independent Business Alliance, 2021).
Similar patterns show that local businesses often recirculate close to half of their revenue in the local economy, with a big portion of that going directly to local wages and day-to-day operating costs. So, it’s not just about “keeping money in town” – it’s about what that money does while it’s there.
Supporting Local Livelihoods
At the heart of “buying local” are the people whose livelihoods depend on those choices. When a business owner chooses to work with a regional builder or manufacturer – like Vacavia Cottages and Cabins – they’re doing more than placing an order. They’re helping sustain real jobs: the welders and framers in the plant, the finish carpenters, the production crews on the line, the drivers who deliver units, and the office staff.
The local multiplier effect shows that small and mid-sized manufacturers are more likely to reinvest revenue into local wages and work with local banks, professionals, and service firms. This kind of spending helps create and stabilize jobs, especially in smaller communities. Put simply: when you choose a local builder or manufacturer, you’re not just supporting “the economy” in a general sense. You’re helping keep real people in meaningful, stable work – people you actually know and whose kids go to the local schools.
Local Builders, Local Know-How
Working with a local or regional manufacturer also means working with people who understand local conditions, expectations, and regulations.
A builder based in the region is more likely to be familiar with:
- Climate and weather patterns that affect building materials and insulation needs
- Regional building codes and inspection processes
- The kinds of layouts, floor plans, and features that actually work for your guests and staff
By contrast, mass-produced cabins or cottages from a distant manufacturer are often designed as one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter units. They may not be optimized for the local weather conditions, and they’re usually far less flexible when it comes to customizing layouts or finishes to match your unique business needs.
That local, practical knowledge can translate into cabins that wear better over time, perform more efficiently in your climate, and feel more intuitive to use day-to-day. It also means that when questions come up, or when you want to tweak a design, there’s a real team in a real place ready to respond.
Long-Term Value Over Short-Term Savings
At first glance, a mass-produced unit shipped from far away might look cheaper. But focusing only on the upfront price misses the bigger picture.
Choosing a local builder or manufacturer can create value in ways that don’t show up in a quick price comparison. That includes better communication and easier coordination throughout the project, and the ability to visit the plant, see quality first-hand, and understand how the units are built. It also offers more flexibility for adjustments, custom touches, or any add-ons. You also form a real relationship with the team that built your units if you need support later.
These factors can reduce costly surprises, shorten timelines, and improve the overall experience – for both the owner and the end users who stay in the cabins.
A Holiday Season Takeaway
As the end of the year draws near and investment decisions for the coming year are being made, it’s a good moment to look beyond price tags and lead times. Whether someone is planning a small cluster of cabins or a larger development, the question is not only “What will this cost?” but also “Who will this support?”
When projects are built by regional manufacturers like Vacavia Cottages and Cabins, the impact reaches far beyond the factory floor. It helps sustain local trades, support local families, and strengthen local economies – one order, one unit, and one job at a time.
References:
Fu, S., Freemark, Y., & Schilling, J. (2024). Promoting Economic and Community Development by Supporting Small Businesses. https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2025-10/Promoting_Economic_and_Community_Development_by_Supporting_Small_Businesses.pdf
American Independent Business Alliance. (2021). The local multiplier effect. https://amiba.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/The-Local-Multiplier-Effect.pdf