Needham Businesses Launching 'Local First' Campaign

The Needham Business Association and the are hoping to keep more of Needham's dollars in Needham with a new campaign that draws attention to the benefits of shopping locally.

Residents and visitors to town should soon begin seeing the "Dicover Needham! Local First" logo in locally owned business windows. These businesses will also be giving out Discover Needham! Local First Cards for free, which will provide discounts to area shops when presented at the time of purchase.

A fact sheet distributed by the Needham Business Association on Thursday, June 14 asserts that not only does shopping locally help Needham but that shopping non-locally—online or at "big box" stores—actually hurts the local economy.

"Significantly more money stays in Needham when purchases are made at locally owned, rather than nationally owned, businesses," according to the NBA press release. "For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $73 stays in Needham and goes toward wages, job creation, taxes and more.  On the other hand, for every $100 spent at a non-locally owned business, only $43 remains in Needham."

Other reasons the Needham Business Association believes residents should shop local? Better customer service, less environmental impact and more of a connection to the community.

"Nonprofit organizations receive an average 350 percent greater support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses," the NBA said in the release.

The purpose of the campaign is also to let residents know what Needham has to offer. The fact sheet states:

From Accounting services to Zagat-rated restaurants, Needham has just about everything you need: Accounting, architecture, automotive services/sales, bakeries, banking, children’s clothing, toys and gifts, medical, therapeutic and chiropractic, women’s clothing and consignment stores, construction services, craft supplies, dance, education, daycare, decorating and design, dentists, dry cleaner/ tailor services, electrical contractors, electronics, financial services, flooring, florists, footwear, furniture stores/services, gifts, gift baskets/gourmet gifts, groceries, hardware, health and fitness, heating services, home improvement, horticulture, human services, insurance agencies, jewelry stores, lawn and landscape, legal services, moving and storage, music, plumbing, photography, printing, promotional products, real estate,  beauty salons, signs, window treatments and more ...

Learn more about the Needham Business Association online at needhambusiness.com.