Once upon a time, I was a chronic bargain hunter. I still
kind of am, but my view of what constitutes a true bargain has changed. Maybe
it was the university student in me…
The old me believed...
The cheaper the better
Import from another country if it will save $10
Buy on eBay, with no idea who I’m actually supporting
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The new me believes...
Quality is a higher good
Shop local and pay $10 more knowing that my money is supporting local
businesses and families
Buy from WAHM operated businesses and keep the money in Australia
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Our purchasing decisions are about more than just dollars and cents now. As a family with four children, we still live on a tight budget, but we try to make our purchases count the first time so we're not constantly repeating ourselves.
Allow me to share a momentary relapse of a few weeks ago. It went something like this... Abacus purchased on eBay direct from overseas supplier for less than $7, including postage. Broke within 5 minutes. Embarrassed much.
But the point of this blog post is not to berate myself for past purchasing transgressions. It's to discuss what constitutes a true bargain.
We believe a true bargain is a product or service that is good quality, does a great job and helps to keep Australia's retail sector chugging along.
It’s not ‘cheap’
if you have to replace it quickly. It’s not ‘cheap’ if it doesn’t do the job.
And it’s certainly not ‘cheap’ if it forces Australian small businesses out of business.
Here are some ideas for how we can all support local.
1. Socks and undies from local markets. Where we live there’s a
Sunday market once a month and it’s usually crowded with local retailers who sell
their wares from makeshift 'shopfronts', effectively bringing their shops to the people. I love this kind of supporting local. The
kids adore choosing their socks from old bread crates and taking them up to the kid who's helping his mum for the day. They hand over their precious coins with
a very serious demeanor. This is important business for little people. They’re
learning that the choices they make with their money can directly affect the
community in which they live. It's also lovely to be able to browse the local retail stores from the comfort of a football field! Anyone with a child or more will agree that shopping in actual shops isn't as fun as we were led to believe prior to giving birth.
Of course there are loads of other great things
you can buy at local markets…
2. Handmade Christmas gifts from your local craft fair. You can get everything from beautifully handcrafted jewellery to kids library bags to locally grown plants. By supporting a local crafter, you’re giving a gift to two people. One of them is the person whose small business you support with your purchase.
3. Fruit and vegetables from your local green grocer. These
guys are usually family-run businesses with a heart for supplying the freshest
produce at a price that doesn’t put farmers or themselves out of a job. And I’m
more than happy to pay a little more for that.
4. Hardware from your local mini hardware store. Perhaps not as
cheap or with the insane variety that a larger chain store might provide, but you
can rest assured of awesome customer service, because word of mouth is
important to the little guys.
And finally...
(Here comes the gratuitous plug...)
5. Cloth nappies from your local stockist or consultant. This
keeps them (and us) in business. What I love most about the cloth nappy industry in Australia is that most suppliers are small, family-owned and run businesses who supply the best in modern cloth
to Australian families while putting food on the table for their own. So you can feel warm
and fuzzy on the inside while your baby’s butt feels soft and fluffy!
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| {Image Credit} |
We know there’s a lot of choice out there and we truly do
appreciate the support you give your local stockist and consultant. So, thank-you.
What else can we do to support local small business?
© Oz Baby Trends 2012
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