Survey: ‘Buy American’ resonates with small business shoppers

While President Donald Trump may be fighting a stagnant approval rating, at least one of his policies associated to American manufacturing has widespread support—“Buy American.”

According to a new study from Cox Business, 70% of Americans surveyed would spend more money if small businesses sold exclusively U.S.-manufactured items.

The 2017 Cox Business Consumer Pulse on Small Businesses states that only 8% fail to visit any type of small business in an average week, leaving around 92% who do and 27% that patronize small businesses at least twice per week with respondents selecting local support and convenience as the top reasons they go the “Main Street” route.

When selecting their top three reasons for shopping and supporting small, the run-down ranked as follows:

• Local support — 67%
• Convenience — 63%
• Greater customer service than a large business — 50%
• Familiarity between respondents and small business owner/employees — 45%

When it comes to shopping small, price had little to do with it with only 14% of respondents stating “more competitive pricing” as a top reason for supporting small business.

Both local and federal government agencies can do more to promote small business growth in their communities, according to most survey respondents. An overwhelming number (82%) felt the federal government especially falls short in this area while two-thirds felt local government agencies do not do enough to promote small business growth in their communities either.

“These survey findings show that Americans are overwhelmingly united in their support of small businesses regardless of the so-called things that divide us,” said Steve Rowley, executive vice president of Cox Business. “Most consumers want to do their part in supporting the American workforce and economy and understand their collective patronage of these establishments is a key component of building stronger communities.”