The holiday shopping season hits its peak the moment Thanksgiving is over, and local shopping options for searching out the top gifts are key. This is especially true during a holiday season in which supply-chain challenges across industries could cause out-of-stocks and shipping delays for nationally recognized brands and chains.
Just in time for the height of the Kansas City shopping season, KCSourceLink has launched BuyKC, a metro-wide initiative created to encourage and inspire consumers and businesses to support local companies.
“It’s a great way to join an effort and movement that celebrates local businesses,” says Jared Campbell, BuyKC co-founder and community leader with the Downtown Community Improvement Districts. “Your most important step is to put local first. Rethink your coffee shop. Go to pop-ups for your holiday shopping. Eat at a local, independently owned restaurant. Patronize a spa or health club. Use a local designer for your home addition. Think about how you can localize your supply chain. The choice is yours, and the impact is significant.”
BuyKC highlights that when individuals buy locally, 45% of dollars spent stays in the local economy, as compared to 17% with chains. With the platform’s online portal, users can search for local Kansas City-based businesses based on zip codes and what they’re shopping for.
The platform will include B2B, B2C, brick and mortar, and online businesses and will pinpoint shops with physical in-store shopping locations on a map. Businesses can showcase their products and services with a photo, as well as searchable keywords and self-reported demographic criteria for free. Local businesses will also have access to the BuyKC logo mark for their product, storefront, or website to identify themselves as a local-first business.
“We want this to be a regular resource where consumers can shop for themselves, family, and friends and where businesses can source locally for their services, supplies, and supply chains,” says Jenny Miller, network builder at KCSourceLink. “Buying locally ensures a greater investment—both social and economic—in our local communities by increasing jobs and keeping more money flowing through local economies.”