Why Local Matters: 5 Powerful Ways to Support Mom & Pop Shops

Growing up, some of our favorite memories weren’t in big box stores or shopping malls.

Michela, one of 1903’s co-founders, remembers walking to the corner deli every day during summer break with her childhood best friend, Jenna. The same squeaky screen door. The same salty snacks. One day, Jenna even ate a chocolate-covered cricket and got her picture on the wall for it. It became part of the legend of their childhood, “The summer of the cricket.” 

These are the kinds of places that don’t just sell…they stick with you. That sense of community, curiosity, and connection is actually what led both of us to become entrepreneurs, and why we’ve made it 1903’s mission to help other mom-and-pop/local shops grow their presence, both online and off.

Why Supporting Local Businesses Matters

• Local businesses shape our neighborhoods.

• They fuel dreams, not corporate boards.

• They reinvest in their communities.

And in an era where algorithms reign supreme, supporting a small business can feel like an act of rebellion a way to say “We matter too!”

Top 5 Ways to Support Mom & Pop Shops

1. Shop Small & Share Loud

Buy local when you can, but when you can’t? Share!

Your share might be the reason someone books them tomorrow. Tag them, rave about them, post your experience. Be honest and fair. 

2. Leave a Review — It’s Free & Powerful

A single five-star review on Google or Facebook can move mountains for a small business. It builds trust and boosts visibility.

3. Don’t Just Scroll, Engage

Saves, comments, and shares aren’t just vanity metrics, they’re modern-day referrals.

A “love this!” comment means more than you think. That one comment can be the reason the business makes a sale and is profitable that month. 

4. Respect the Craft, Don’t Ask for Discounts

Support doesn’t always look like asking, “Do you have a family and friends  discount?”

It’s asking, “How can I pay you fairly for your work?”

5. Recommend Loudly & Often

Be that friend who says:

“Oh, I know someone who’s perfect for this.”

Word-of-mouth is still the most powerful marketing tool we have for now. Remember, digital marketing is the future “door to door salesman.”

Why We Built 1903 Around Local Support

We’ve worked with multi-million dollar corporations, but our hearts are with the underdogs, the family-run taco stands, the homegrown roofers, the one-woman dance studios. We take all the strategies we’ve learned at the top level and translate them into tools local businesses can use to show up confidently online.

Supporting local starts with intentional action; a like, a share, a hire.

If you’re a small business ready to elevate your brand, we’d love to be part of your journey.

Let’s create something extraordinary together!