Thursday, October 27, 2011

Buy and Support Locally.....

This should not be a NEW catch phrase, Buy local....Support local.,  It is a sentiment that we should have never lost track of to begin with.  We as consumers are to blame. Who doesn't like to get a great bargain or get a lot of bang for your buck? The sky rocketing prices for almost everything you buy or consume has me wondering will there ever be an end to it?  The way our whole economic structure is based, it is hard to charge low prices for things that are made in the USA. Why, to put it simply....regulations, taxation and labor. Our government has seen to it that it is cheaper for companies to out source everything from customer support call centers to the production of  kids toys, produce and even the gum that we chew. The United States is the World's largest importer and not surprisingly, China is the World's largest exporter. The trouble is that we have structured our whole economic system such that it relies on foreign production and importation. There are so many statistics I could spout off here, but really, in the end, its not the stats that will make a difference. What will make all the difference is choosing to support local business and bring back the demand for local jobs and local supply.

So how do I go about buying local you may ask?? Lets start with food. It may seem that it is not actually that easy of a task considering a large amount of our produce for instance, comes from other countries such as Mexico and Canada. At least they are on the same continent but alas, they are not local. Rather, pay a visit to your local farmer's markets. In the immediate area that I live in, there are numerous Farmer's markets held every weekend from early May to the end of October. There are a few indoor markets that go all year. You can also seek out food co-ops in your area. A food co-op is a great option because it  is not run by shareholders but rather by it's members. It cuts out the corporate red tape if you may. The food is usually natural and often organic. Speaking of organic, another great option we have in my area is a produce delivery service called Organics to You. They literally deliver fresh organic produce to your front door. They source their produce from local farms....can't get much more fresh and sustainable than that.

Eat out much?? Go to locally owned non-chain restaurants. Not only are you supporting the small business owner, but you are contributing to that business employing at least a handful of people, if not more. A lot of local restaurants also buy their produce from local resources,  that Farm to Table concept and thereby continuing the flow.

Shopping at locally owned boutiques is also a great way to feed into the local economy. Whether we are talking clothing, accessories, shoes, furniture or art, you can buy those things in places other than a box store. Let's face it, in this economy a lot of us are really taming our shopping habits anyway. I for one have bought very little in the way of unnecessary items this year. In other words, my shoe collection has remained the same for the better part of the year. However, when I do need to shop, I now am feel obliged to hit up locally owned boutiques **BONUS** hit up a locally owned boutique that features local artisans and designers. Once again, this keeps to the "pay it forward" mentality....which I love!!

Getting the idea??

You can start taking inventory of your services too. Make sure that when you are receiving service that you are supporting the local economy whenever possible. I am currently considering switching my banking to a FDIC insured credit union or locally owned bank.Go to a locally owned auto service for your oil change instead of those chains.....or get your office or home cleaned by a locally owned company instead of a franchise. Now for some of you who might read this and take offense to my mentioning small businesses who are part of major franchises.....sorry but you are actually part of the problem.

Get your coffee from an independent coffee shop instead of supporting the corporately owned java joints. There are so many quaint little coffee shops, carts, and drive through huts that there is no reason not to go local.

Here is a challenge for the upcoming holiday season.....shop til you drop local. Consider buying hand made toys instead of plastic ones stamped with Made in (you fill in the blank). Go to your local Saturday markets or holiday bazaars. There are usually some fabulous sources to tap into local artisans. 

The point I am trying to make is simple, support local and reap the benefits...maybe not in an obvious way but for me, just knowing that I can make a small difference locally is all the proof I need.

It is really easy to find the resources....just Google it. If you need some help or referrals, message me!

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