Box stores are ruinous for small businesses. And by box stores, I mean Wal-Mart. You shouldn't recommend people go there; instead, you should encourage them to shop
local.
Here's what shopping local can do:
1. Improve your family's health. Buying local foods has numerous health benefits to your family. Like if you buy local honey, it helps with allergies. I read that somewhere.
2. Improve the local economy, because it puts money back in the pockets of your neighbors. So they'll like you.
3. Know the people behind the product, so you can tell them how great that thing you bought was!
4. Keep your community unique because you won't find the same local places everywhere.
5. Better customer service. Probably. Unless you're a
window shopper.
6. More personalized service. Yes, this.