Central Square Florist, Inc. has been a locally owned business for over 75 years in Cambridge.  Being locally owned is such a good thing that many nonlocal businesses pretend to be right here in Cambridge MA.   Be sure to view their about us page and see in fact if they are located in Cambridge MA.  You need to be careful when using the yellow pages or even a local search for a florist with Google. They and businesses like them often provide false information with locations of locally owned businesses. You can read more at www.floristdetecive.com and see an investigation piece by WHDH in Boston.  The Federal Trade Commission issued an article on this very subject.

Top Ten Reasons to Buy Local

1. Significantly more money re-circulates in Cambridge when purchases are made at locally owned, rather than nationally owned, businesses. More money stays in the community because locally-owned businesses purchase from other local businesses, service providers, and farms.
2. Most new jobs are provided by locally owned businesses. Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally, and in Cambridge, they provide the newest jobs to residents.
3. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of our distinctive character. The unique character of Cambridge is what brought us here and will keep us here.
4. Local business owners invest in the community. Local businesses are owned by people who live locally and are more invested in the community’s future.
5. Customer service is better. Local businesses are closer to the customer and hire people with more specific product expertise for better customer service.
6. Competition and diversity lead to more choices. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based on the needs of their local customers and not on a national sales plan, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.
7. Environmental impact is less. Shopping at locally owned businesses is more energy efficient. Locally owned businesses make more local purchases, thus reducing the transportation costs of goods.
8. Public benefits far outweigh public costs. Local businesses require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.
9. Local businesses encourage investment in Cambridge. A growing body of economic research shows that entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.
10. Non-profits receive greater support. Non-profit organizations receive an average of 350% greater support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses.