1) How does it benefit the local community when consumers Buy Local?

Local businesses spend more locally - on local labour, on local advertising, on local services, on local products, and on supporting local community clubs and associations. Because most economic multipliers are in the range of two to four times the initial expenditure, these differences in local business spending will always result in substantially greater benefits to the local economy.

2) What is the ‘Economic Multiplier’?

The economic multiplier refers to the multiple use of money as it circulates through the local economy, creating more commercial activity and employment.

For example, if a person spends $100 to purchase products or services within the Brisbane Valley region, some of that money will be used to purchase other local goods and services, such as labour.

There are different models to calculate the benefits of the economic multiplier, but as a general principle, if a local consumer spends $100 in a local business, and 3/5 of that amount is again spent locally, the local economy benefits by $60. But if 3/5 of that $60 is again spent in the local economy, and so on, the cycle is perpetuated, so the economic benefits can be several times the value of the original $100 spend.

3) Is ‘Buy Local First’ protectionist?

‘Buy Local First’ is entirely about the free choices of consumers and businesses. No one is being forced to buy local, and no tariffs or other burdens are being placed on non-local goods.

One way of looking at ‘‘Buy Local First’’ campaigns is that they aim to give consumers better information about the availability of attractive local goods and services, and about the significant benefits of buying local.

4) In a free market economy, would it be better to just leave the market alone?

In a free market economy, consumers need to gather information about available options before they make purchasing decisions. A ‘Buy Local First’ campaign simply offers information about the local business resources that are available to the consumers. In addition, it promotes awareness that every dollar spent locally will have two to four times more benefit than a dollar spent non-locally.

One of the great features of a free-market economy is that consumers and businesses may make any purchasing decisions they wish. And in a free-speech society, citizens may persuade one another why local purchases are more advantageous, which is all that a ‘Buy Local First’ campaign seeks to do.

5) Does the 'Buy Local' campaign have a political agenda?

The SRBA ‘‘Buy Local First’’ is a grass roots campaign initiated by the Somerset Region Business Alliance. It is 100% politically neutral, but it is hard to imagine more traditional values than those underlying the campaign - namely free markets, small business, fair play, and local empowerment.

6) What are the objectives of the Somerset Region Business Alliance ‘Buy Local First’ campaign?

The SRBA ‘Buy Local First’ campaign provides an opportunity to develop a creative and robust response to the competitive challenges posed by big chain stores and shopping developments in the region. The aim is to stimulate the local economy by educating local consumers about the many benefits of supporting locally owned businesses.

The primary objective of the Somerset Region Business Alliance ‘Buy Local First’ campaign is a better economic and social future for our community.