Support the buy local movement with your on demand app
The movement to shop local is nothing new, but with on-demand apps, it is easier than ever. Why you ask? Because just about every on-demand app out there uses suppliers from the local economy. Do you need an Uber? Your Uber driver will be someone from the area either working their Uber gig full time or earning some extra cash on the side. Are you using an on-demand app to find a mechanic, a hairstylist or a dog walker? Again, that person is going to be someone from your community.
Let’s take a look at why using on-demand apps is such an effective way to support your local economy.
The bulk of the cash exchanged goes from local buyers to local sellers.
Yes, when you use an on-demand app, the platform which may or may not be local, takes a commission but the majority of the money goes to a local service provider. These service providers are people who live, work and pay property taxes in your community.
On the other hand, when you go to a brick and mortar business, unless it is completely local and independent, chances are that a much larger percentage of your money is leaving the community in the form of franchise fees, payments to head office, advertising costs, etc.
On-demand services must be local to be “on-demand”
In order for a buyer to get service “on-demand”, the service provider must be someone who is close by. If you are using an app in order to get someone to come to your home within the hour to provide you with a relaxing massage, it is necessary that the person already be in the area. To live up to the name on-demand, these apps must draw from local providers.
On-demand apps partner with local business
Now there are some apps like Skip the Dishes, or Just Eat that work with large multinational corporations like McDonalds. How do these apps support the local economy? They do so in a few ways. First, the drivers obviously have to be local to the area. Second, these apps provide delivery service to restaurants and retailers that might not otherwise offer it giving them more business and potentially creating more jobs within the organization.
On-demand apps encourage local entrepreneurship
Finally, the prevalence of on-demand apps is nurturing a whole new class of local entrepreneur. People who may not have the necessary capital, time or confidence to start a more traditional business, can easily start putting their skills to use with just a few touches of a screen.
For these individuals, finding the right on-demand app through which to market their skills can be like finding and starting their very own plug and play business. And once they’ve been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, who knows what other businesses they might start in their community?
Whether you are a buyer or a seller, if you want to make sure you are doing your part to support the local economy, it makes sense to at least consider making use of on-demand apps.
Well for most food delivery apps, I see big restaurants and chains and few little ones – how can this issue be addressed??