"What's in it for me?" What to say when consumers ask why they should shop locally.

This question is perhaps best answered by Michael H. Shuman, author of the book Going Local and Small-Mart: How Local Businesses are Beating the Local Competition.
"Going local does not mean walling off the outside world. It Means nurturing locally owned businesses which use local resources sustainably, employ local workers at decent wages and serve primarily local consumers. It means becoming more self-sufficient and less dependant on imports. Control moves from the boardrooms of distant corporations and back into the community where it belongs."