There has been a welcome trend
over the last couple of years to
embrace locally sourced products
and support the men and women
who work in our hometowns. If
you’re a regular customer with
a local business then they’re
likely to throw in discounts and
freebies, which is something that
the structure of large businesses
usually doesn’t allow room for.
Market stall holders can negotiate
on price: When was the last time
you negotiated with a Tesco self-
service machine? Better advice
is also given by small businesses,
as local traders can provide you
with more information about
their products due to their more
personal relationship with suppliers.
Purchasing from independent
traders also gives you greater
scope for buying unique and quirky
items. Ordering bespoke furniture
from a carpenter means that you
have an item which is exclusive
and produced with love and care.
Ordering your entire living room
from Ikea might be convenient
but you’ll be making your home
design fit around what is available
to buy, rather than commissioning
furniture which is tailored to suit
your needs. Similarly, buying
handmade toys for your children,
grandchildren, nieces and nephews
lets them enjoy something
individual which has been made
with love by a craftsman who
genuinely appreciates your custom.
Visiting, say, your local greengrocer
can also be a more charming and
personal experience than what you
get in supermarkets. Mr Clements
at Adam’s Orchard (Black Bourton
Road) states: “When people do
come in they like the experience
insofar as they do see their
neighbour, they talk to them,
as well as to the staff; there is a
rapport between all the people”.
Let’s not forget the ethical benefits
of supporting local business.
Shopping at local butchers and
greengrocers gives you the peace
of mind that your food hasn’t been
stripped of nutrients, isn’t covered
in unnecessary packaging and
hasn’t damaged the environment
by being flown halfway around
the world. Local butchers are also
much better equipped to ensure
the welfare of their animals than
the mass-produced meat that you
can buy in supermarkets.
Barry’s Family Butchers, the only
butchers shop in Carterton, has
been proudly serving the local
community for more than 30
years, and prides itself on being
a family run business. In addition
to their traditional butcher range,
they are the leading barbecue
specialists in the local area, relying
on their reputation to build and
maintain the growing business – a
reputation based on the quality
and range of products they supply.
This reputation brings customers
from close and far to enjoy the
quality meats. (They are now
taking Christmas orders. To avoid
disappointment please order early.)
Please continue to support local
business. When you do a much
higher percentage of what you
spend goes back into the local
economy. To lose the businesses
detailed in this article and the like
would be to lose charm, quality and
uniqueness…and pretty soon, as
pointed out by Adam’s Orchard’s
Mr Clements, your local high street
will look the same as every other
one. “You should give the small
people a chance.” Mr Clements
says. “If you don’t support the local
businesses soon they won’t be
here.”
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