SHOP LOCAL: Shopping locally fosters relationships, keeps dollars within community
Published 9:29 pm Thursday, November 5, 2026
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As the holiday season approaches, two women in Pettis County’s economic and business sector offer insight into the utility of shopping locally. Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gabby White cited sustained community quality as a driving factor.
“The biggest thing about supporting local (businesses) is, you’re not just supporting the owner. Obviously that’s one of the main things people think about, but you’re also supporting the people who work there; you are ensuring that they continue to have their job–that they are able to continue their hours (and) provide for their family,” White said. “Beyond that, the more that we support local business, the more that we’re also pouring into our local economy. For our city to continue to be able to provide the things that it does, we have to have that tax income and everything that goes along with it.”
Relying on neighbors for goods and services is a step toward community cohesiveness as well, White explained.
According to Capital One Shopping, 80% of people shop locally to support their community.
Just under 10% of retailers in Missouri are considered to be small businesses, with over 11,500 in the state.
“There are a lot of relationships that are important to keep up,” White said. “We want to ensure that businesses are able to stay here, and want to stay here. The resources that we’re able to provide here in Sedalia also bring people from other places, so you’re also supporting (Pettis County) tourism…”
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index indicates the cost of all items related to the cost of living increased by 3.7% between Sept. 2025 and Sept. 2026.
The rate includes a 20.4% increase in energy services.
In an economy fraught with inflation, White described ways to drive traffic to local business when personal purchases are not feasible.
“When you have the means, when you have the ability, when you have the resources to be able to (shop locally), you’re affecting the lives of other people,” White said. “…But what are the other means by which you can support these local businesses? Well, you can share their posts on social media…it costs you nothing to be able to promote businesses that are here. To make those recommendations, it goes a long way. ”
State Fair Community College Business Instructor Amie Breshears echoed White.
Capital One indicates that the United States saw a 4.08% increase in revenue by small and independent retailers in 2024, totaling an estimated $3.85 million. In Missouri, there was a 2.04% increase, generating $57.5 billion in sales.
“Investing your dollars in the places you care about–there are so many ways to do that,” she said. “I know money is tight right now and people feel like they can’t do anything to help local businesses, but they can offer reviews (or) share by word of mouth. If you have a good experience at a restaurant, tag them (in a social media post). In a community, we’re all connected.”
Breshears speaks from experience; in addition to teaching business, she is well-versed in agriculture and what it means to feed your neighbors first.
“We used to sell meat at the (Sedalia) Farmers’ Market (and) I used to work as an ag business field specialist for The University of Missouri Extension,” Breshears said. “One of the things we really tried to hone in on was adding value to Missouri agriculture…how can we add more value to what’s already here? Whether it’s feeding out steers or it’s tomatoes or it’s peaches, how can we keep more of that? Because when we ship what we’ve grown or produced, that takes transportation dollars, and then it takes transportation dollars to ship it back in. Where those supply chains or processing chains lead is actually a really big deal.”
In times of global crisis, having a source close to home is vital, too, said Breshears.
“I think it really kind of stunned people, when COVID happened, and all of a sudden you couldn’t find meat or (other supplies),” Breshears said. “I think it kind of opened people’s eyes, like, ‘Maybe having just one place that I can get the things I need isn’t the greatest plan.’”
Keeping reciprocity alive is the basis of small-town economics, both White and Breshears concluded.
“It’s not just a financial commitment,” White said. “…These are our neighbors. These are the people we’re seeing every day.”
“We’re all in this together,” Breshears added. “Life is too short not to help each other out. We all want a good investment; shopping locally is a great investment in the future for yourself and those around you.”
