Love a KC-Based E-commerce Businesses? Add it to the #ShopLocalKC List

This holiday season we are excited to expand our Shop Local database to include Kansas City-based ecommerce businesses. That’s right, soon you’ll be able to use the Shop Local page to do all of your holiday shopping—online and and in store.

Already, our Shop Local map features locally owned brick and mortar business ranging from shops to accountants. With your help, soon it will include a list of locally owned ecommerce businesses as well.

>>>Click here to add an ecommerce business to #ShopLocalKC

Not only is this great news for the consumers (fess up, how much shopping do you do online and wouldn’t it be great if you could direct those dollars to local purveyors?), the shop local ecommerce edition also brings holiday cheer to the hardworking hearts of Kansas City’s many microenterprise business owners. Makers and crafters, inventors and builders, chefs and elves . . . this present is especially for you!

What are the qualifications for being listed?

1. Here’s what it takes to make it on the ecommerce #ShopLocalKC list:
   Be independently owned (i.e., not a franchise)
2. Ecommerce is your primary avenue for sales (you cannot have a dedicated brick and mortar business)
3. Have a website where purchases can be made
4. Have a business mailing address in the KC-region

>>>Click here to add an ecommerce business to #ShopLocalKC

Note: if you own a brick and mortar business in Kansas City, we have an existing map for you. Learn more and apply here.  

#ShopLocalKC ecommerce list (In progress) 

We'll update this list as submissions start rolling in. Keep them coming!

Tech (and other goodies):
Classy Case (mobile accessories) – Visit online
Glam'r Gear (luggage) – Visit online
The Bot Connection (robot decor) – Visit online
Gipson Wands – Visit online
the little wing (children's toys) – Visit online

Home decor:
Art from Architecture (handmade prints) – Visit online 
Jas'd up (custom candles) – Visit online 
Art by Vanessa Lacy – Visit online 
The Home Place – Visit online
Been There, Pinned That! (corkboards) – Visit online
Artist KC (custom made art) – Visit online
Kellogg Frosted Furniture – Visit online

Gourmet foods (and other things you eat): 
Lifted Naturals (probiotics) – Visit online  
Bacon Explosion – Visit online  
Helio (health foods) – Visit online

Apparel and accessories:
Duplika Jewelry – Visit online 
Club Pro Guy – Visit online  
Flint and Field (also home decor) – Visit online
HOLSTRit – Visit online 
The Agape Love T – Visit online 
Rawls-Riley Creations, LLC (headwear) – Visit online 
Broken Arrow Crafts – Visit online 
Stylish Aim – Visit online 
Bagettes – Visit online
Cutting Edge Design Company – Visit online
HardiHood Hustle Clothing – Visit online
 
Music and books:
Off-Kilta Matilda™ – Visit online
Jasmine Diane – Visit online
Lyndalynn Publishing – Visit online

Beauty Products
K.C. Beard Balms – Visit online

Why is shopping from local businesses important?

Great question. First of all, Kansas City has amazing entrepreneurs. So there’s that. But there are also hard numbers that support the impact and import of shopping local and keeping your dollars in Kansas City. 

1. A study shows that when you shop at locally owned businesses, 45 percent of your dollars stay local, as compared to 17 percent with chains.
2. Surveys suggest that 75 percent of small firms donate to charities each year, averaging a contribution of six percent of their profits.
3. Unique businesses create character. Just think about it. Would you rather take a selfie at a Wal Mart or a locally owned boutique?
4. The negative environmental impact of a big box store can be much greater than from shops on Main Street.
5. Most new jobs are supplied by local businesses. From 2012 to 2016, KC startups created 65 percent of all new jobs in the area. Learn more in our We Create Jobs report.

Need more convincing?  Read the stories of a few of Kansas City’s makers and creators:

“How to Weave Your Way to a New Business in Kansas City”
Johanna Miller, Potions Yarns

Johanna thought about opening a brick and mortar business, but decided her hand dyed yarns were better sold online.

“Teach an Entrepreneur to Fish”
Joseph Pippins, The Fishing Caddy

There’s only one thing that Joseph loves more than fishing . . . succeeding as an entrepreneur.

“Kid Inventor Turned Adult Business Owner on Taking Risks and Clean Dogs”
Katie Petty, The Paw Wash

Katie invented the Paw Wash for her sixth grade science fair. Years later, she’s still making sales and cleaning messy dogs.

>>>Click here to add an ecommerce business to #ShopLocalKC

What resources are available to microenterprise entrepreneurs?

Lots and gobs. Visit the Resource Rail℠ and follow the lime-colored line to see them all. Here’s a few at a glance:

• Many business feasibility courses are perfect for microenterprise entrepreneurs. In fact, there are scholarships available to take classes at UMKC SBTDC this winter.   
• Microenterprises entrepreneurs don’t have to work at home alone. Coworking spaces are welcoming places to get work done and build a community. Check them out.
• Did you know microenterprise entrepreneurs can receive loans to grow their businesses? Sure can. Learn more.
• You can see all of the content on our website geared toward microenterpise entrepreneurs here.

All I want for the holidays is . . .

a personalized action plan. This list will have exactly the resources you need to keep your microenterprise growing through the next holiday season (and beyond). Our resource navigators are the Santas of KCSourceLink and they are happy to bring you what you want, just drop some info here, no chimney required.