Buy local campaigns have long intended to support local, small, and independently owned businesses. These campaigns are aimed at marketing to the consumer to promote the local economy. Although these campaigns are present all around the nation and even internationally, they are locally based and help independent businesses. However, large chains and corporations are beginning to take notice of the marketing advantage that local businesses have, and are themselves attempting to appear local. In the latest marketing craze, “local washing” is occurring in almost every sector of the market—from produce to coffee and all the way to banking. Hellman’s Mayonnaise is testing this philosophy in Canada because the ingredients for its product come from North America. HSBC is portraying itself as “the world’s local bank” with its over 500 locations. Even Starbucks is cashing in on this philosophy by operating stores under different names that make them appear more “local.” Stacy Mitchell, author of Big Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses, addresses the situation and its implications here. While this new approach lets “Buy Local” advocates and small businesses know that what they are doing is having such an impact that global corporations are taking notice, it also confuses consumers and takes advantage of those who do not understand what makes something local or why local products should be purchased. Of course, large corporations can support local suppliers and carry local products, but the true advantage of the economic multiplier effect for the local economy occurs when a product is purchased from an independent business that is truly locally based and performs the majority of business operations locally.