Every builder has been there. Visit a big box store to purchase an item for a few dollars less than your local building supply store. It breaks right away or has a defect and you want to return it. This is where the headache begins. Queues are often very long at the customer service counter. When you finally get to the counter, the clerk tells you that the window of opportunity to return the product has closed. The store offers a credit instead of a refund. You call the customer complaint line and are greeted with an endless series of automated prompts that ultimately don’t even connect you to a human. You have to ask yourself, “Was it really worth saving a couple of bucks?”
Small businesses differ from large multinational chains in several ways. First of all, customer service is a top priority. Small businesses are eager to help and often form long-lasting personal relationships with loyal customers. From getting the names of regular customers to asking how the project is going, small family businesses care about their customers. They don’t have tens of thousands of customers, so they need to impress visitors with outstanding customer service. Unlike employees at big box stores, small business owners take pride in the products they offer and are very knowledgeable. They know the construction business and provide accurate recommendations on the products that work best for specific job site needs. Many companies provide samples and follow up with customers to make sure the products work well. When problems arise, it’s not uncommon for small business owners to go to great lengths to help customers resolve them.
From an economic perspective, supporting small businesses helps communities by stimulating the local economy. Greater demand for local goods and services means more jobs and a stronger economic climate. According to various studies, when people shop at small businesses, there is a much higher investment in the local economy than if they shop at big box stores. The increased demand for local goods and services serves as a reinvestment in the community that can lead to more jobs, higher wages, and fewer small business closures.
There is also something to be said for the quality of supplies purchased from local stores versus those purchased from local stores. big box shutters For example, San Diego-based surface protection company Builders Site Protection offers carpet films as thick as 3.0 mils. It looks like the 2.0 mil thick film you find at Home Depot, but is actually a more durable, puncture-resistant, high-quality product. In many cases and with many products, big box stores buy in bulk from China or other countries and get lower quality and heavily discounted products than small businesses. Small business owners know where to source the highest quality inventory and are committed to selling products that will outlast a comparable cheaply made product. This discrepancy can be found in local businesses across the country. Although a large store may be less expensive in the short term, in the long term an inferior product may end up costing builders more.
Quality customer service, beneficial impact on the local economy, and superior product quality are just a few reasons to consider purchasing small business construction supplies.