Supporting local businesses is in my own best interests

July 21st, 2011
by David Armstrong

There are many advantages of living in a community the size of Motueka, and one of them is the easy access (in my case, generally walking distance) to shops, eateries and services which supply most of my needs.

While acknowledging that many big ticket items are in short supply here (e.g. only two smallish car yards, one appliance retailer), and that occasionally some ordinary items have been short when I've needed them (e.g. no shop stocking white tennis socks on the day I'd run out), generally Motueka offers me an impressively good selection of the basics.

When more is needed, Nelson and Richmond are only a 30-40 minutes drive away and the selection of shops there would satisfy all but the most fastidious of buyers, I imagine. And of course, there's the giant global shopping mall called the internet. But I've firmed up now on a personal strategic policy of buying locally whenever possible and affordable. And there's one good reason for this - it's in my own best interests.

The maxim goes: The more I buy locally, the better those shops do and the more likely they are to still be in business when I need them.

The opposite way of looking at it is an even more convincing argument: Every time I choose to buy in Nelson or on the internet when I could have bought the same or similar in Motueka, I make it harder for a local businesses to survive, so the less likely that business is to be around when I need them.

It is in my interests to support them because I want to be part of a town which houses sustainable businesses that offer me solutions to my basic needs. When they thrive, my life gets better - they offer me more choices and better quality products and services so I don't have the hassle of driving out of town to get them.

Every time I choose to top up my petrol tank in Nelson because the cost per litre may be 3 cents less (although there has been a bit of change on this recently), I reduce fractionally the viability of our two High Street gas stations here. If, then, one went under it would be me that suffered as much as their owners because I will have lost an option into the longer-term future.

When I buy a book over the internet to save a few dollars and get it more quickly than it can be ordered in, I make it fractionally harder for my nearby stationer to survive; and if he went then so would so many other products he so usefully makes available to me at strolling distance.

I'm not going to name and single out any particular local businesses that I want to survive for my personal future benefit, and therefore will patronise whenever possible, but you will know and understand these examples.

If I need a new computer modem (as I did recently), I'd rather buy from the one local computer shop than save, say, $15 getting one on the internet or spending that $15 on petrol to travel to Nelson to buy one for $10 less at Noel Leeming. The local computer shop now has a tiny extra chance of surviving and becoming even better - plus I got the local tech guy to help install it properly.

If I need new jeans or a sweatshirt, I'll make sure that at least I try the local menswear retailer first and only consider a trip to the city if he has nothing at all suitable - which is in fact a rare situation. Likewise shoes - the choice available locally is surprisingly good and buying there helps that situation to continue (rather than forcing the retailer to cut down on his range if sales aren't sufficient to sustain his offering).

I could go on; I trust you've well and truly got the picture by now. Even if I have to pay a little more on some purchases (and this isn't all that often the case anyway), I would rather do that and help make the commercial activity of the community stronger, because in the long run it will make Motueka a better place for me to live, and certainly make me less reliant on driving to the city to buy what I need.

That's what I call real commercial sustainability.

But I may have over-simplified my argument. What do others think?

Comment by Shirley Frater:
[Posted 22 July 2011]

You raise a good aspect for Motueka. In smaller businesses the staff have to know the products they have for sale so one is able to ensure product knowledge. But they don't forget the service.

Small towns do not have many one-off customers. They need you to come back so it's in their best interest to ensure you buy what you need or even point out a better buy or better still order it in for you if not in stock. Mostly this time of the year we can usually park close to the shop.

The best businesses are the ones that treat you with respect - not a slap, wrap and zap the card. I can reward a good business with my purchase.

Comment by Mark Chapman:
[Posted 22 July 2011]

I agree wholeheartedly. Motueka has just about all one needs to buy locally. We have a great selection of shops and as a town we need to encourage people to patronise them.

Our retailers need our trade now more than ever. The economy is slow, unemployment has doubled in Motueka since this time last year, the pip fruit industry is down (AGAIN) and our traditional tourism markets aren't coming because of the cost of getting here and the cost to buy stuff here.

And whilst this is going on the local MP is pressuring TNZ for a bypass to take traffic away from Motueka. When our entire economy surrounding Motueka is struggling why do persist in trying to drive the summer trade away from our town and shops? As you mentioned David, it is very convenient to be able to walk to town and purchase what you need. This summer trade is what keeps many businesses going during the dire winter months, especially at the moment.

I guess the residents of Motueka need to decide whether they are happy to drive to Richmond or Nelson in the future to purchase goods so that for a month of the year when town is busy they don't have to wait to cross the road, or whether they want to support local shops that look after the tourists as well and enjoy the vibrancy of having a lively town. People need to understand the cost to them of having a bypass and it may mean that we simply won't have the shops that we are blessed with today.

To support local shops means so much more than just making a purchase...

Comment by William Cleaver:
[Posted 27 August 2011]

Resurgence Coffee has been pushing the use local scenario since we opened in 2008 and finally a local cafe has come to the party. The new Elevation Cafe and Restaurant owned and operated by Izzy and husband Andy have a philosophy like ours that supporting local is where it's at.

In doing this Elevation Cafe has given Resurgence Coffee the confidence and opportunity to employ a new staff member. It's this mentality that will keep this town above water as we struggle with record unemployment and our horticulture a little worse for wear.

The town has a investment in local business. Where locals spend money at a business that supports out of town suppliers, that's where your money goes(out of town).

We also understand that Motueka can't produce all the needs for the local market and have to buy out of town but in most cases Motueka has all the requirements for average day to day living. So Resurgence Coffee urge Motueka residents to support local that support local. Even a lttle bit can make a big difference.

Comment by Ian Miller:
[Posted 27 August 2011]

It just makes sense to shop locally but sometimes it can be something of a bitter pill. I was about to order something locally recently, and then at the instigation of a friend, got a quote from a Nelson company for the exact same product. The price offered from the Nelson outfit was just about exactly 2/3rds cheaper than the local price and the delivery date was within 24 hours whereas the local delivery was "in a few days".

I have bought some other big ticket items locally in recent times also and know that I could have saved serious money there too but went with local supplier. I think some local businesses have got to sharpen up and stop taking locals for granted. We do have choices.

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