We've all done it. You need something, grab your phone, click a couple of buttons, and before you know it, a delivery truck is pulling into your driveway.

Convenient? Absolutely. But what if buying from a local Kalamazoo or Portage business could be almost as easy?

That's the idea behind Shop Local Greater Kalamazoo, an online marketplace bringing locally owned businesses together in one place.

The initiative, developed by Southwest Michigan First Chamber with support from Kalamazoo and Portage, gives local makers and retailers another way to reach customers.

Shoppers can browse products from participating businesses without hunting through dozens of separate websites.

And this isn't just another campaign telling us to shop local. It's an effort to make doing so easier.

Local workshops were held in October to help business owners create their online storefronts, including an October 15 session in Portage.

Of course, competing with the enormous selection and convenience of national retailers won't be easy.

But small businesses have something the giants can't duplicate: they're part of our community.

They employ our neighbors, support local activities, and help give Kalamazoo and Portage their character.

Will this marketplace change how people shop? That remains to be seen.

But it's an interesting step toward giving our hometown businesses a fighting chance.

Would you make an extra effort to buy locally if you could find everything in one convenient online marketplace?

Illustrative image: Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels