What if I told you that where you spend your next $25 could have a much bigger impact on your community than you realize? We often hear the phrases "Shop Local" and "Support Small Business." They're printed on signs, shared across social media, and promoted throughout our communities. I hate to say it yet sometimes those phrases are a little overused and like many overused, fire hosed things they get looked past or ignored.
But have you ever stopped to think about what those words actually mean for our local economy?
I've spent much of my life as an entrepreneur, and one thing I've come to understand is that a healthy local economy isn't built by one successful business. It's built by hundreds of businesses, families, employees, and organizations supporting one another.
And when we look at the actual numbers, the importance of small businesses becomes even clearer. Hang in here with with me as we dive into some static and number pulled from Google to get the fact right and show the numbers!
Small Businesses Aren't a Small Part of Our Economy
According to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's Key Small Business Statistics 2025: small businesses accounted for 98.2% of all employer businesses in Canada as of December 2024. That's approximately 1.08 million small businesses across the country.
Even more impressive? In 2024, small businesses employed approximately 5.8 million Canadians, representing 46.6% of Canada's private-sector workforce. And right here in Alberta, there were more than 137,000 small employer businesses at the end of 2024.
Think about that for a moment. These aren't just storefronts, restaurants, contractors, and service providers. These are employers, families, entrepreneurs, and people helping keep our economy moving. Small businesses aren't simply participating in our economy. They're one of its foundations. According to recent statistics a $100 purchase could generate approximately $66 in local economic activity through a small retailer, compared with $11 through a multinational retailer, based on the study's estimates.
That's a significant difference. Now imagine hundreds or thousands of people making the conscious decision to support more locally owned businesses. Imagine the potential impact over a month, a year, or even a decade. And here's where things get interesting.
The Ripple Effect We Rarely See
Let's say you visit a locally owned coffee shop and spend $20.
That $20 helps the owner pay an employee, purchase supplies, cover rent, and keep the lights on. That employee might take their paycheque and buy groceries from a local store. The coffee shop owner might hire a local bookkeeper, purchase printing from a nearby print shop, or work with a local marketing company. That print shop might sponsor a youth sports team. That sports team might hold a fundraiser with another local business. And suddenly, one simple transaction is connected to a much larger network of people and organizations.
Of course, not every dollar stays local, and not every purchase follows the same path. But the underlying principle is important. Our local economy is interconnected in ways most of us never see, when one business succeeds, it creates opportunities for others. When businesses support each other, those connections can multiply. There's another part of this conversation I believe deserves more attention is the economic impact of locally owned businesses extends beyond employment and sales.
It's the local restaurant donating a gift certificate to a silent auction.
It's the contractor sponsoring jerseys for a youth hockey team. It's the salon contributing to a school fundraiser. It's the small retailer providing a prize for a community event. These contributions don't always make headlines, but they help build the communities we live in.
That's a powerful reminder that the value of local entrepreneurship isn't measured only in dollars earned, but also in how businesses contribute to the people and places around them.
This is where my passion for entrepreneurship and community really comes together. I believe we spend too much time thinking about businesses as individual operations and not enough time recognizing the opportunities that exist when they collaborate. What happens when a coffee shop promotes a nearby bakery? When a local retailer recommends a neighboring service provider? When five small businesses work together to support a community fundraiser?
They introduce customers to new businesses. They strengthen relationships. They create opportunities that might not have existed otherwise. Collaboration doesn't eliminate competition. It creates opportunities for more businesses to grow. And the stronger those connections become, the more resilient our local business community can be.
This belief is a major part of why I created Sparked Promotions. I wanted to create something that encourages people to discover locally owned businesses, gives entrepreneurs an affordable way to reach new customers, and creates opportunities to support our community. Because when someone discovers a new local business through our book, I don't just see a coupon being redeemed.
I see a potential new customer relationship. I see an opportunity for that business to grow. I see someone discovering a business they might never have known existed. And I see another small connection being made within our local economy.
That's what excites me.
I'm not suggesting we should never shop at a large retailer or that every locally owned business is automatically the better choice.
Price, quality, convenience, and personal circumstances all absolutely completely matter. Personal budget and lifestyle all play a roll into this as well. But I am encouraging people to recognize that where we choose to spend our money does has an impact.
The next time you need a gift, a service, a meal, or something for your home, take a moment to consider whether a locally owned business can meet that need. And if you're a business owner, consider how you could collaborate with another local entrepreneur rather than trying to do everything alone.
A stronger local economy doesn't happen by accident. It's built through the decisions, relationships, and actions of the people who call that community home. And that's something I believe is worth investing in.