By John Oakley
Rich Evans, the Village Voice editor, is a passionate and pro-active supporter of the ‘shop local’ ethos in the Lithgow region, and buying locally does have a number of advantages. By purchasing food and other goods locally you stimulate the economy in which you live. Jobs are created, or retained, the community earns money and things thrive and grow. Local businesses are mostly owned by people who live in the community, are less likely to leave, and generally use local banks, accountants, employees, and services. And they contribute more to local charities, sports and local causes, than non-local owners. Often locally-owned businesses purchase from other local businesses and service providers, and that helps grow other businesses. As long as there’s healthy local competition, the chain stores won’t benefit from a captive market, it keeps money in the hands of the community and out of the hands of the large, outside businesses. The unique character of the local community is often defined by the businesses that reside there, and that plays a big part in the general satisfaction with where people live, and the value of homes and property.
There is another side to all this, however. With the luxury of the internet, people are now finding new ways to meet their shopping needs, other than buying locally. And this creates a moral dilemma. Do you go about buying online and saving on your budget, or do you support your local business?Local stores give you a sense of security and confidence about the quality of the goods and services they offer. But with online retailers there are issues regarding quality, and truth about what they are offering to sell you, and what to expect. When you walk into a local store you can personally see the item, test it, and even get the seller’s own opinion to make sure you get the best value for your money. Shopping online you are buying sight unseen (other than a photo) and have to hope that what turns up matches its online description. Yet shopping online has several advantages; you can buy from the comfort of home, saving on petrol and transportation, and you can compare products, look up product reviews, and choose the best deal, including shipping to your door.
It’s important that as consumers we make an educated decision and be aware of the results of our shopping choices. I buy Australian and ‘shop local’ whenever I can, but there are times when an item is unavailable locally, or the cost is over and above what I am reasonably prepared to pay, compared to buying the same item online. You can’t try to guilt people into thinking they have to buy everything locally, they will feel it’s impossible and give up. It’s also up to local businesses to make the shopping experience itself enjoyable and welcoming, and offer prices that are comparable and competitive for local shoppers. Ultimately the longterm success of ‘shop local’ will require some give and take – from both sides of the counter.
