Support entrepreneurs. It’s simple math really. If you want to see more entrepreneurs thrive in your economy you should support more of them. It’s not always the cheap, easy or convenient route. As a customer, these are my only criteria and are therefore the only ones that matter.
As a member of my community, the criteria changes. It’s not about the quick, easy and convenient. It’s about what I want my community to become and not what it is right now.
I make many purchasing decisions every day. Mostly influenced by cost or quality. How many of those decisions are pro-local? How many of those are pro-small-business? How many of those are pro-community?
As an entrepreneur, you should be leading the charge. Not just in personal purchases, but in procurement as well.
PS! Make it easy for your community to choose you. They really want to!