Shopping locally in the region
Shopping regionally means buying from local stores and retailers rather than online or in large shopping malls. The products offered may come from regional businesses, manufacturers or farmers and are usually fresher and better for the environment than products made farther away. Buying goods and services at local stores supports the region’s economy and supports regional jobs. In addition, many businesses support local regional associations through sponsorships or do other good causes, which benefits the community and the entire region.
- Support regional economy
Local businesses are a critical component of a livable and stable economy in your community. By shopping local, you’re helping to support these businesses and spur local economic development. - Strengthening the community bond
Shopping locally gives you the opportunity to meet people who live and work in your neighborhood. Through personal contact, you can make new friends and support regional initiatives and social projects. - Fresh and local products
Many retailers, farmers markets and grocery stores offer fresh food that comes directly from local growers – without long hauls or costly storage processes. This means higher quality for your food as well as more health benefits for yourself. - Reduction of the CO2 footprint
Buying local products means less transportation and thus a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from shipping goods long distances. This not only protects the environment, but also increases cost efficiency – a win-win for everyone!
How do I find participating stores near me?
If your municipality already participates in our initiative for local shopping, you will find all shopping opportunities directly on the website of your municipality. If your municipality is not yet participating in our initiative, you are at the right place on our big platform for local shopping in Switzerland. Browse our website or use the search function to find a suitable shopping opportunity in your municipality or in your place of residence.
Find local shopping opportunities: Continue to Shopping Total search function
Who can participate in the initiative?
- Communities (free of charge)
Swiss municipalities can participate in our initiative easily and free of charge. For the employees of the municipality, there is only a minimal effort of about 15-30 minutes. We maintain the content and, together with the stores and our visitors, ensure that the content is up-to-date. We also take care of the correspondence with the stores and are responsible for the technical maintenance of the offer. Please register your community directly via our contact form now. - Retailer (free of charge)
Participation is free of charge for retailers. There are no costs for participation. You can register for participation via our form “Register store or online store“. As soon as your offer is registered with us, it will be published on the website of the municipality. The maintenance of the data is very easy and uncomplicated via our platform.
Where can I find an example of the widget for my municipality of residence?
Here you can test the widget for your municipality: https://cdn.shoppingtotal.ch/demo/regional-einkaufen.php
Questions and answers about participation
With our local shopping initiative, we want to give people in the region the opportunity to buy local products and services. In doing so, we aim to promote a sustainable and locally focused economy that creates jobs, improves people’s lives and fosters a sense of belonging. Our initiative educates people about the benefits of shopping local and encourages them to buy more locally made products. We also offer area businesses the opportunity to raise awareness about conscious and regional shopping.
Nothing, our initiative is free of charge for all participants. This applies to all Swiss residential communities, as well as to all retail stores. There are no hidden costs or other cost traps.
For municipalities, registration is done via our contact form. Retail stores can register via the form “Register store or online store“.
The community gets a free opportunity to support the local economy by raising awareness about the benefits of shopping local.
Quite simply, after your community has confirmed their participation to us, we will send you an easy-to-integrate widget that the person responsible for the community’s web presence will add to your website.
No problem, we take over all information about the already existing stores and transfer them to Shopping Total. In case of mutations, the stores can contact us directly in the future, thus relieving the municipal office.
Service companies can also register on Shopping Total. We are happy to take over the maintenance of the contents from the business directory and thus relieve the municipal office.
We offer all retailers free of charge a great opportunity to introduce themselves to a wide audience on our platform and on the municipality’s website, thus drawing attention to their offer and to local shopping.
Your store may not be registered with Shopping Total yet. The store can be registered free of charge at any time using the “Register store or online store” form. After a check the entry will be activated.
Looking for a suitable business in your region?
In your region there are certainly a variety of suitable shopping opportunities. Whether supermarkets, large shopping centers or small boutiques. In many communities and cities there is a wide range of stores where you can buy fresh fruits, vegetables and other products. Often there are also local stores where you can buy traditional specialties, meat and baked goods. In addition, you can usually find numerous shopping malls and outlets in the vicinity with a large selection of products at low prices. Here on Shopping Total you can discover many shopping opportunities in your region. Browse our categories for suitable stores or start a search for stores in your city or town.
Shopping locally does not automatically mean more sustainability. It is a step in the right direction and can help support local businesses and shorten the transport distance of goods. However, to be truly sustainable, other factors must also be taken into account, such as avoiding waste, using renewable resources and minimizing energy consumption.
One reason it pays to shop local is the sense of connection to the community. Shopping local supports the local economy and jobs. There are also often regional specialty stores that can only be found locally. Another benefit is the ability to speak directly with the salesperson and ask questions or ask for advice. One also has the assurance that one is getting a quality product and that no inferior products are being offered. In addition, buying locally, one can also save money at the same time, because one does not have to pay various shipping costs.
How can I, as a consumer, support local businesses
Buying locally has many advantages. For one thing, you support local businesses, which benefits the economic cycle in the region. In addition, you protect the environment through shorter transport routes and less packaging material. In addition, it is often cheaper than at an online retailer and you often still get competent advice.
- Regional specialty stores
Visit a specialty store near you and shop there instead of ordering on the Internet. Benefit from the personal advice on site, which you do not get on the Internet. - Tell your friends
Spread positive publicity for local stores by talking to friends and family about your good experiences or by creating a positive review here on Shopping Total. - Become a loyal regular customer
Make it a habit to shop at the same store regularly – it’s a way to show your loyalty and ensure it continues to establish itself in the community. - Give gift vouchers
Give coupons from local businesses to other people, who then redeem them at the local business.
Order advertising material
You want to draw attention to local shopping in your community or business. Order our advertising materials such as stickers and flyers here.
