The Cost of Convenience: What’s at Stake When We Stop Shopping Small

“Support small business” has become a popular slogan these days. Encouraging people to “shop small” is an effort to keep local communities alive with character and quality in the face of big business in a global economy. But is small business losing ground?

I run a retail boutique that stocks inventory from other small businesses in the U.S. I am also a person who needs to do a Target run or make an Amazon purchase when I need something last minute. I’m playing both sides of the field, and it’s teaching me a lot about consumer needs and why we spend our money where we spend it.

As I gear up to launch the spring collection for my online store, I find it more challenging to source products that fit my specific boutique criteria than it would be if I had no brand values. When I shop, I look for small business brands that either hand-make or manufacture their goods in the U.S. They cannot be on Amazon (and the pool is quickly shrinking on that one), and I prioritize local businesses first. Once those options are narrowed, I start my search for products that have all the qualities that fit my boutique style: beautiful design, well-branded packaging, and, of course, a connection to plants, nature, or the outdoors in some way. All of a sudden, the ocean of choices becomes a wading pool.

Sometimes I wonder if my brand values are worth it. Are people buying from me because I offer small business brands, or are they buying because they like the product and the small business part isn’t a factor? I have to ask myself why I put these restraints on myself when I can realistically buy whatever I want. And the answer is always the same: artistry.

I am not saying that big business can’t produce quality. And I am not saying that small businesses only produce quality (I’ve seen lots of poorly executed products from small business brands that try to sell at premium prices). I mean to say that the people who truly believe in what they do, who are driven by purpose, and produce something that represents the inspiration of their creative spirit are the people who deserve to survive in this competitive market.

Creative entrepreneurs and artists love what they produce in a way CEOs of big businesses can’t. Large companies mean mass production, which means less attention to detail. And even if those companies mean well, they simply produce on a scale that doesn’t allow for the personal touch that comes from handmade and small-batch production from individuals and small teams.

Big business has figured out how to get us what we need fast and cheap, which serves a purpose. But I don’t want to live in a world where fast and cheap replaces craftsmanship and excellence. We need to support small makers because they keep the spirit of creativity and artistic vision alive. Without that, we lose the very thing that makes us human.

Yes, I often wonder if customers are going to buy from me at a higher price point when they can search online and find a cheaper option in seconds. I wonder how convicted people are to preserving small business culture in the face of economic concerns. And I don’t expect anyone to spend their hard-earned paycheck at my store in the name of “shopping small.”

What I hope to offer is a shopping experience that provides the luxury of beauty and quality you won’t get on Amazon or Temu. Stores like mine aren’t designed to be an everyday spending priority. We are the shops you browse when you have something special to buy, when you are looking for a thoughtful thank-you gift or something to make your space feel more lovely. Intention is what drives this behavior, not impulse or need.

Luxury doesn’t mean flashy, expensive, or exotic. Slowing down to leisurely browse and consider a higher-ticketed purchase, until you are inspired to invest, is a luxury lifestyle. Even if that means a $6 jar of catnip. Sometimes it means saving up a little each month and practicing delayed gratification. But that also makes your purchase more satisfying and valuable. We tend to appreciate and care for these pieces more than the items we splurge on in a moment of desire.

Fine dining in fast food culture is an excellent example of small business artistry versus big business convenience. Some people see a Michelin-rated dining experience that costs hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, and say, “I’d need a burger after that.” Those people don’t understand that a fine dining experience isn’t about getting full. It is theater for the taste buds. If we stopped appreciating the exceptional quality of fine dining, then we would lose the height of culinary exploration and end up eating cheap burgers as the pinnacle of our culinary experience without no desire for anything else. Societal stagnation, if you will.

Supporting small business is a mentality that, if not preserved, will diminish our ability to appreciate, celebrate, and advance the human creative spirit.

As a consumer, how do you feel about your experience between shopping large and small businesses? How do you determine where to spend and what the motivating factors are? Do you prioritize convenience, price, uniqueness? All of the above? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Stay botanically inspired,
Brooklyn