We hope to encourage our local residents to look Local First, by making it easier and preferable to recycle our money within our LOCAL community
When the world feels overwhelming, it’s easy to believe that our individual actions don’t matter, but here on the Hibiscus Coast, we’re proving that even the smallest actions can create a ripple effect of positive change. The Local First Challenge invites you to be part of something bigger, something that will transform our community from the inside out.
Imagine This…
A Hibiscus Coast where vibrant local businesses line the streets, where the air buzzes with creativity and the spirit of entrepreneurship. Imagine a place where every purchase you make feels like an investment in your own backyard, supporting the dreams of your neighbours whilst strengthening the local economy.
That’s the future we’re building, one intentional choice at a time.
By shifting just 10% of your monthly spending towards local businesses, you’ll be amazed at the impact you can make. Wealth will be redistributed, more jobs will be created, families will thrive, and our local economy will flourish. But it’s not just about the money, it’s about : building community, fostering a sense of connection, celebrating our unique culture, and taking pride in our magical stretch of KZN.
Every cup of coffee sipped at a local cafe, every gift purchased from a neighbourhood artisan, every meal enjoyed at a family-owned restaurant – these choices matter. They create a ripple effect that strengthens our community, empowers our entrepreneurs, and ensures a brighter future for generations to come.
The Local First Challenge isn’t just a hashtag – it’s a commitment to our shared future, it’s about recognizing the power we hold in our hands, the ability to shape our community through our everyday choices. Together, we can create a Hibiscus Coast strengthened by dreams, connections, and shared prosperity.
We get it. The Hibiscus Coast has seen its share of businesses that don’t deliver on their promises. That’s why we’re different : We believe in transparency and accountability. We encourage you to check reviews – not just on Local First, but across platforms like Google and Hibiscus Coast Seconds (if you’re local to the South Coast). See what real people are saying. We want to showcase the businesses that truly deserve your trust and support, the ones that are in it for the long haul and committed to making our community thrive.
APPLY FOR YOUR ONLINE DIGITAL STOREFRONT HERE
When small businesses thrive, they can hire more people from our community.
Because they’re owned by people in the community, these businesses more invested in the future prosperity of the community. Only about 33.6% of the revenue from national chains is reinvested into the community, whereas there is an approximately 64.8% return from local businesses.
Local independent businesses cater to their local communities. They are able to focus on the needs of their consumers and tailor their services accordingly. They don’t have to answer to large stockholders or corporate partners, so they often have more flexibility in how they operate and the type of service they offer. Getting in contact with a director is way more possible than with a a National Company.
Creating a large marketplace of successful small businesses is the best way to support innovation and low prices over the long-term. When small businesses prosper, they have the freedom to offer products based on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, rather than products dictated by the large retailers. This allows for a broader range of product choices, more creativity, and less expensive goods
Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses.
Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned business, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, which helps support the local economy as a whole.