Americans used to ask their friends and neighbors about the best dry cleaners, plumbers, and mechanics they knew. Today, consumers tend to go to the well-known chains and ignore local gems. Americans have the ability to use Web sites that allow them to rate local businesses and help them find high-quality ones they may not have heard of.
The Web provides valuable consumer information. “With so many people moving across the country and fewer of us knowing our neighbors well, it’s gotten harder to find that over-the-backyard-fence reference,”Angie Hicks was the founder of Angie’s List.www.angieslist.comThe site is called, and it reviews local home services companies. “We take that neighborly referral concept to the next level. So, instead of taking one neighbor’s word, you have the firsthand accounts of 15 or 20 people in your city.”
Angie’s List was founded by visiting homeowners from door to door. Hicks surveyed locals to learn about their experiences with nearby business and then created memberships. Angie’s List is used by over 650,000 homeowners to search for businesses in over 330 categories. These include architects, dentists, and window cleaners. Angie’s List offers a website and a magazine.
“I really enjoy being able to tell people about good companies and accentuate the positive out there,”Vicky Polito is an Angie’s List user. ” I really think that people who work hard to provide good service really like knowing that they are going to have a satisfied customer who can and will tell about that (experience).”
Local businesses that are high-quality and sustainable can help create vibrant communities. Local businesses often benefit from the recirculation of dollars before they leave town. This helps support small shops and their workers.
