Local sourcing brings speed, quality, and deeper connections. Being nearby means more control and faster problem-solving. Investing locally builds community goodwill and brand trust. Start small today—test one item with a local partner. 579 words ~ 3 min. read Sometimes the best way to grow your business isn’t about going bigger—it’s about going closer. More companies are finding that partnerships with local suppliers aren’t just about where products come from—they shape how quickly a business can move, how closely it can control quality, and how much value it can create for customers and community. Speed You Can See When your suppliers are nearby, orders arrive while the ink on your sales order is still drying. Questions get answered before lunch. Product tweaks happen in days, not months. That kind of responsiveness means you can serve customers better and seize opportunities while they’re still fresh. A Front-Row Seat to Quality Working locally lets you see the process up close. You can step onto the production floor, smell the freshly cut materials, and shake hands with the people bringing your products to life. This connection makes it easier to uphold high standards, solve issues before they snowball, and create offerings you’re proud to stand behind. Partnerships That Feel Personal Local sourcing often turns into more than a transaction—it becomes a relationship. When your vendor is a short drive away, you’re not just an invoice; you’re a partner. That trust leads to creative solutions, extra care during busy seasons, and a shared investment in each other’s success. An Investment in Your Community Dollars spent locally ripple outward—supporting jobs, other small businesses, and local services. Customers notice when you make that choice, and it often strengthens loyalty. People like to buy from businesses that invest where they live, and they remember it. A Story Worth Sharing More customers want to know where their purchases come from. Being able to say, “We work with suppliers right here in our region,” isn’t just a point of pride—it’s a story people tell each other, and it builds trust faster than any marketing campaign. Your First Step Making the shift doesn’t have to mean rewriting your whole supply chain. This week, pull up your purchase list and choose one product or service to source locally. Make a call, ask a few questions, and see how quickly a handshake can turn into a partnership. Once you’ve tested the waters, you can decide where else local sourcing fits. The Bottom Line Local sourcing is about more than cutting costs—it’s about speed, quality, trust, and connection. It helps you deliver faster, control outcomes better, and strengthen your brand’s story. Global trade can move mountains, but local sourcing moves at the speed of trust—and that’s the kind of supply chain that lasts.  Read More: 5 Advantages to Localizing Your Supply Chain Local Business Partnerships Strengthen Communities and Drive Growth --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.

If the thought of “tracking KPIs” makes your eyes glaze over, you’re not alone. For many small business owners, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) sound like something reserved for corporations with big budgets, bigger teams, and even bigger Excel spreadsheets. Who wants the hassle? But here’s the truth: KPIs are just numbers that tell a story and if you’re not paying attention to them, you’re running your business with the lights off. The good news? You don’t need 47 dashboards or a data analyst to track the KPIs that matter. You just need to choose a few that tell you whether you’re growing, stalling, or unknowingly throwing money out the window. Consider this article a crash course on basic KPIs. KPIs You Should Be Tracking If you’re like most businesses that are just beginning their financial tracking and analysis you’re concentrating on two things—what did I make and how much did I spend? That’s a great start but it’s a lot more nuanced than that. If you’re ready to play in the big leagues but aren’t ready to hire your own analyst, here are 5 simple KPIs you should track (and you don’t need a business degree to do so): 1. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) What it is: How much it costs you to get a new customer. Why it matters: If you’re spending $100 to get a $50 sale, that’s not marketing—it’s expensive gambling. How to track it: Divide your total marketing + sales costs by the number of new customers gained in that period. Example: $1,000 spent / 10 new customers = $100 CAC Pro tip: Keep an eye on every month. If it’s creeping up, your ads, outreach, or messaging may need a tweak. 2. Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) What it is: The total revenue a single customer brings to your business over the course of your relationship with them. Why it matters: It’s not the first sale that makes you profitable—it’s the second, third, and fifteenth. How to track it: Average purchase value x number of purchases x average customer lifespan. When CLV > CAC = happy business owner. 3. Lead-to-Customer Conversion Rate What it is: The percentage of leads that turn into actual customers. Why it matters: Getting leads is great. Very exciting when someone shows interest in you but converting them is where the money happens. How to track it: (Number of new customers ÷ number of leads) x 100 Example: 10 customers ÷ 100 leads = 10% conversion rate Pro tip: If this number is low, your follow-up process or sales messaging might need work. 4. Revenue per Employee (or per Hour) What it is: A productivity metric that shows how efficient you or your team really are. It’s not about being busy, it’s about what you’re/they’re adding to the bottom line. Why it matters: Working hard is great but seeing results from that work is critical to your business’ success. For instance, imagine one employee having a laundry list of work accomplished over 40 hours but no sales to show for it or an employee working three hours and making the week’s sales number. Which employee is more valuable? How to track it: Total revenue ÷ number of employees (or hours worked, if you’re a solo act). This outcome calculates it in a general sense. If you want to figure out which employee is bringing in more revenue, you will have to create a system to assign sales to individual employees. Some PoS systems allow for codes, for instance, while most CRMs allow you to assign clients to salespeople. This calculation helps you see if you’re scaling well or just staying busy. 5. Churn Rate (a.k.a. Goodbye Rate) What it is: The percentage of customers who stop buying from you over a given period. Why it matters: A leaky bucket never fills, no matter how much water you pour in. How to track it: (Customers lost ÷ total customers at the start of the period) x 100 If this number is high, focus on customer experience, retention, and loyalty programs . Tracking Tips You don’t need to check these KPIs every day. Just set aside one hour a month to review them. Use a simple spreadsheet or dashboard, and ask: What’s improving? What’s declining? What actions should I take based on this? If you’re not sure what the trends mean, try plugging them into the AI of your choosing and ask it to run a basic analysis of the numbers and offer suggestions. KPIs aren’t just vanity metrics—they’re your early warning system, your gut check, and your business GPS. Track them consistently, and you’ll be more attuned to your businesses and where it’s headed. Further Reading: 6 Questions Every Smart Small Business Owner Asks Community-Led Growth: The Secret Sauce Smart Businesses Are Using to Scale Hospitality is the Hidden Edge: Why Emotional Connection Drives Customer Loyalty Think Bigger: How Systems Thinking Gives Small Business Owners a Smarter Edge -------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith