The intimate and personal shopping experience that comes with a handmade purchase is a feeling that a big store can't match. Another reason why you should feel good about spending your money on handmade products? Doing so creates jobs. A study found that shifting just 10 percent of consumer spending from a particular area to locally owned businesses would create hundreds of new jobs and millions of dollars in local wages. It's not just an amorphous air of authenticity that causes people to shell out more for handmade products.
Handmade products are usually better. A study on coffee revealed that 47 percent of respondents said it tastes better when prepared by hand, compared to just 11 percent who settle for machine-produced beverages. Handmade work consumes less energy than a mass-produced assembly line, making it more environmentally sustainable. This is particularly true if the commercial product is manufactured overseas and must be shipped over a very long distance to reach the consumer.
In a study that analyzed consumers' artisanal shopping habits, nearly a third of respondents said that they had bought handmade products “many times”. By definition, expert craftsmen make artisanal products. Buying an artisanal product helps create jobs and preserve traditional crafts. Handmade foods also almost always contain fresher ingredients.
Instead of frozen components, factory-produced additives and hasty processing practices, artisans use healthier materials that are more effective in a well-balanced diet. These products provide you with beneficial nutrients and do not harm your body with chemicals and carcinogens. Artisans who make handmade products tend to be more aware of the responsible disposal of waste and recyclable items.
