The high street is something that has been around for decades. Local shops, local people providing local services. Whether it is your vegetables and fruit from the greengrocers, your meat from the butcher, or your fresh flowers from the local florist, the high street was a fabulous place. In recent years it has started to struggle. With big stores opening up and the convenience of online shopping, the high street is at risk of disappearing for good. After this past year even more so, as smaller establishments have fought to keep their businesses alive during lockdowns and restrictions. It is now more important than ever before to support your local businesses and choosing to shop local. But why should we when Amazon prime and Tesco online shops are more convenient? Here are a few reasons.
The feel of community
There is no doubt that where we live is always going to be an important factor to us. It could be that you chose to live in a village or market town, or even in the city, but where you choose to live can often be because of how it makes you feel. That sense of community, that sense of pride, and the high street is a big part of that. You don’t get the feeling of community like it may have been a few decades ago, where everyone knew everybody’s name and business for that matter. But there is no reason why it can’t get to that stage for you or create that feeling of a community again. Supporting your local businesses and shops helps to keep them there for future generations potentially.
A personal service
The lady at the checkout in Tesco or Waitrose won’t know your name, how many kids you have, or what your interests are. They won’t know what you buy regularly, how you feel, or what you are doing. The personal service is lacking in a big store. And while there is nothing wrong with that. After all, sometimes you just don’t want to make small talk. You just want your bread and milk and to be able to get out of there, right? But sometimes you don’t mind talking, and for some, it may even be the only conversation you get that day. Shopping locally often means that you will likely start to get a personal service. Your bitcher will recommend cuts of meat or ways you can cook things. Your florist might recommend seasonal blooms or certain arrangements for occasions. The greengrocer may add a few extra apples to your weekly order, just because. It is these things that can make the difference, and give you that personal service we all love.
Helping businesses that need it the most
Tesco survived the lockdowns, as did Amazon. It is the local businesses that have struggled to make ends meet. Your local shops and businesses will have had business rates to pay or had to find alternative ways to produce an income. So now more than ever it is a good way to give back and support those businesses that need it the most. Shopping local can do that.
Hopefully, this will help encourage you to shop local in the future.
