The Power of Shopping Local

Lindsay’s “why” behind starting Say Yes Bridal & Boutique in Cortez, Colorado, will change the way you see shopping local.

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How a Wedding Changed Everything for This Small Business Owner

Lindsay didn’t start Say Yes Bridal & Boutique just because she loves fashion (even though she does).

She started it after planning her daughter’s wedding—and realizing something frustrating.

She had to travel to other towns just to find the simplest things.

And it made her wonder…
Why doesn’t our town have this?

That one question turned into something bigger.

Now, her shop exists to make things easier for people like you—so you don’t have to drive all over the place just to find what you need.

As Lindsay put it, she wanted a place where people can “rely on their own town to provide the things that they need.”

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What Say Yes Bridal & Boutique Is Really Trying to Give the Community

Say Yes Bridal & Boutique isn’t just about dresses or convenience.

It’s about people.

It’s about care.

Lindsay puts it simply:

“I really love taking care of our community. I think it’s important to take care of one another—that’s why we’re here.”

And something about that stays with you.

Because at the end of the day, that’s what being a business owner really means.

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The Struggle Behind Small Town Businesses Most People Don’t Think About

Running a small business isn’t easy.

Lindsay talked about how one of the biggest challenges has been “keeping local business local” in a world full of big chain stores and easy online options.

“Because we are a small town, it’s really important for locals to know how important it is to shop local,” she said.

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What Really Happens When You Shop Local in a Small Town Economy

Here’s what might change the way you see shopping local:

When you spend money locally, it doesn’t just disappear into some system somewhere else.

It stays.

It moves through your community.

It supports other small businesses, families, and local jobs—people you might actually know.

In fact, according to the American Independent Business Alliance, “On average, 52.9 percent of each purchase at local independent businesses is recirculated locally, compared to less than 13.6 percent of purchases at chain stores.”

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How You Can Support Your Community By Shopping Local

Our businesses are here to take care of us, and in turn, we should take care of them by shopping local any chance we get. Before you order online, ask yourself, is there any way I could get this locally?

Shopping local isn’t just about supporting a business.

It’s about what kind of community you want to live in—and what you choose to keep alive in it.

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Watch the full interview!