When you’re new in a city the first people to treat you well, like you’re not a stranger, are the merchants.
Repeat a visit to a restaurant and small nods of nourishing acknowledgement go your way.
This is the building of a relationship which, in-turn, builds your society.
Attract independant retailers to your city for quality contact that:
- Builds your community quicker.
- Gives it more locally-distinct flavour or character.
- Makes your city more diverse, as the difficult-to-replicate, place-based and distinct roots of the independent retailer also attracts a customer- and residential-base which is diverse itself.
- Makes your city more resilient as the city is filled with thousands of invisible personal networks which constantly generate collaboratition and innovation.
To the visitor, to the consumer, a smile is better if it’s warmer.
We often forget that independent retailers have the warmest smiles.
And an independent retailer’s smile builds your society fastest and best.
Below: Her Message Clothing & Shoes, Old Theatre Lane, 50 Bay View Terrace, Claremont, Australia.