Independent Choice

We've been reading about the decline of the British High Street in the newspapers for some time now. As a family who have a local business we feel that it's important that we put our money where our mouth is, so have been really focusing over the past few months on using the local independents we have around us and do our bit for the local economy.

I'm delighted to say the upshot is that we have met some fantastic local business people who are so passionate and knowledgeable about the products they sell. Don't get me wrong, the people who work in the supermarkets around the area are nice, but they can never have the enthusiasm for customer service that we've experienced at our butcher or grocer. Their knowledge centres not just on the products themselves, but also on you as a customer, getting to know your likes and dislikes and being able to recommend different things for you to try.

Another unexpected benefit has been a reduction in our household waste! As we are no longer seduced by the "buy 1 get 1 free" offers frequently seen in supermarkets, we are learning to buy just what we need for that day or week. This is giving us better tasting, fresher produce, saving us money and reducing the packaging & food waste we generate.

Sadly high streets throughout the UK are showing a decline in independent businesses as a result of growing competition from supermarkets, big high street brands and online shopping. However research by the New Economic Foundation found "that every £1 spent with a local supplier is worth £1.76 to the local economy, and only 36 pence if it is spent out of the area. That makes £1 spent locally worth almost 400 per cent more". So keeping it local can really make a difference to the local economy!

July is Independent Retailer Month, where people are encouraged to vote with their feet if they want to save their local high street and shop locally. Now this doesn't mean that we instantly stop using other big brand organisations, but just pause and think about each purchase we make from those big brands, and the difference it would make if we obtained it from a local business instead.

So this month we'll be continuing to use the local supermarket for some of our shopping, but we'll also be choosing to buy from the local butcher, grocer & newsagent that we are lucky enough to have in our town. So join us in celebrating all that is great about our local high street this month and making sure that these great businesses stay on our door-steps!