May 2013
Update
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Why Buy Local? It’s a hot topic in today’s economic climate and a message that thebestof has been promoting for a number of years with our Buy Local campaign. Many local businesses and people already actively support this campaign by displaying Buy Local stickers in their shops, offices, cars and even on packaging. To add to these initiatives, thebestof Guernsey will be running and promoting a Buy Local Week in June to further support this important message and encourage islanders to choose local business first. So why should we buy local? We are often met with, ‘it’s cheaper online’, ‘local shops charge too much’, ‘it’s quicker and more convenient to buy stuff over the internet.’ In some cases this may be true, however, the danger is that Internet shopping becomes habitual and shoppers go online before considering the local options. In a small Island like Guernsey there are serious long term implications if we don’t ‘keep it local’. Buying local goods and produce from independent retailers strengthens the island’s economy and in doing so helps our community preserve its wealth, culture and identity.
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Offer of the Month The People behind the Business Working Well New Members Business Spotlight
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At the most basic level, when you buy local, the money you spend stays in Guernsey. When money is spent elsewhere; at big supermarkets, non-locally owned utilities and online retailers, that money flows out of the island never to return. By shopping with local providers, we can keep our economy buoyant and prevent our centres from becoming ‘ghost towns’, devoid of local shops and services. Failure to support our businesses will see St Peter Port become a ‘clone town’ looking like every other High Street in Britain with nothing but the same fast-food and retail chains on offer. Purchasing goods from a locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned company, will see a significantly increased proportion of your money being used to make purchases from other local providers; this in turn will help strengthen the economic base of the community. The fact is; locally owned businesses contribute to our economy and encourage island prosperity. So buy local wherever you can – even if it costs a little bit more.
Continued...