Australians are becoming more aware that small businesses are vital to the national economy, according to results from the second annual Westpac Australia Day Index. The survey found that 49% of Australians believe supporting the local economy is the most important thing they can do by buying from Australian small businesses. 58% believe small businesses are the backbone of the Australian economy. Nine in 10 Australians feel loyalty toward small businesses. Australians are shopping small and being especially loyal to grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and bakeries/butchers because they want to support their community, independent shops celebrate their town's uniqueness, they receive great customer service, and local shop owners know their products.

1. Australiansarebeginningtorealisethatsmall
businessesareavitalpartofthenation’seconomy,
resultsfromthesecondannualwestpacAustraliaDayIndexShow.
WhyaremoreAussies
ShoppingSmallBusiness?
49%
ofAustraliansBelievebuying
fromlocal,Australian
Businessesisthemost
importantthingtheycando
tosupporttheeconomy
58%
ofAustraliansbeleivethat
smallbusinessisthebackbone
oftheAustralianEconomy
9in10
}Australiansfeel
loyaltytowards
smallbusinesses
AussiePatriotismiseconomicallyandemotionallydriven
withconsumersbeingespeciallyloyalto:
GroceryStores Pharmacies
Restaurants Bakeries&Butchers
39% 37%
21% 20%
Source:2014WestpacAustraliaDayIndex
Aussiesareshoppingsmallbecause:
-theyfeeltheyaresupportingtheircommunity
-independentshopscelebratetheirtown’suniqueness
-theyreceivegreatcustomerservice
-localshopshaveshortercheckoutlines
-Smallbusinessownersknowtheirproduct