Last weekend was the annual Flower Day at Eastern Market, one of the Detroit activities that rings in the warmer weather — or so I heard. Held the weekend after Mother’s Day, vendors come from Michigan, Ontario, and everywhere surrounding and in-between to share their unique flora. And there were so many plants there that I had never seen before, I wish I had a plot of land to fill with flowers! Unfortunately for my lofted and balcony-less apartment, most of the plants at the festival needed open air, direct sunlight and ample pace for their roots to spread out. I did buy some herbs, which, if I give myself enough time this summer, will turn into a Pinterest project. But most importantly, Flower Day was yet another opportunity to live local.

What does it mean to live local? To me, living local means supporting the community you’re living in, by choosing to buy your coffee and baked goods from the small business owner down the street. Or going to the farmer’s market selling produce from the farms in proximity to your home. You can even ‘live local’ when you travel, by choosing to stay at independent inn and mom-and-pop styled bed and breakfasts.

And supporting local businesses is how you can support the growing Detroit.

I honestly never really thought about the impact of my consumer habits until rather recently, when I spent a lot of time over the last couple of years helping my dad with his business. He owns and runs an independent inn, a small business. Spending a few months on the ground with him showed me the struggles of small business owners in the American consumer market, which is heavily influenced by the large-scale marketing efforts of franchises and big companies. My dad and I picked apart his marketing strategy and compared it to that of a Super 8 or Holiday Inn, and it made us feel like a tiny fish in a sea of sharks. Building a well-known brand requires such an investment of time, money, and creativity, and is a facet of small business that can very much influence its outcome.

Supporting a local business in your community is more impactful than you think. Walking in – even occasionally – shows the owners that you care. Showing up with a smile and a small tip is encouraging. And investing in your community is investing in yourself, your lifestyle; without those who buy local, those city and town amenities wouldn’t exist.

Detroit’s small businesses are what make it unique; take that into consideration the next time you want to buy a Starbucks.