Shop Local!

 The "Shop Local" movement is about more than "just" shopping at local merchants.   It's about sustaining local economies, funding local schools, literally paying (through sales tax) back into your community.  Please don't take this to mean that we're "against" franchises or corporations, because we're not.  We're advocates for the local merchant because it can provide more in the way of money back into an economy.  

A note on corporations and franchises:   Shop local movements can sometimes demonize large, interstate and international businesses.  They spin these businesses as nameless, faceless, drains on society.  This, though, isn't true.  Corporation are -in fact- some of the biggest advocates of the local business.  Here's a few:

• IBM
• Frost Bank
• 3M
• Wells Fargo 
• American Express
• Bank of America 

Our stance on these businesses is quite simple: utilize them!  If they're going to give you a helping hand, take it.  If American Express will issue you a credit card at a good interest rate, take it.  

Where do we differ? (on opinion and use.) 

  SmallDiscovery is not a simple directory, but we ARE a directory in form...just put on steroids.   We call ourselves a "Local Merchant Network" because that's what we really are.  We collect businesses on our site in an effort to unite, teach, empower, and -hopefully- contribute to the success of small, local businesses.   As time goes on, we'll add to the site and give more tools to the businesses on it.   This, though, will not increase the price.  

A message on our price: we ARE NOT built and WILL NEVER be at the top of the expense category; we're built to be inexpensive to use.  We do this because we want to site to be available to everyone.  Some of these directories are meant to syphon money from the users.  They're $35-$50 per month, and you're limited in what you can do.  That's never going to be us.   

More info?  Check out our "What is SmallDiscovery Page."