extendor Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 My wife used to do all our weekly shopping at Tesco etc. Like any family our weekly food bill is quite large. All of that money went straight into Tesco and in return she thought she was getting a bargain price and convenience. For many months now she has been splitting her shopping. Some of it still goes to Tesco because it is convenient and on her way home from work but all the fresh stuff she gets locally. She is therefore supporting the baker, the greengrocer, the butcher, the local general store as well as the independant petrol station etc. The amazing thing is it costs NO MORE. In my opinion it is a great big con if you believe Tesco and the majors offer better quality and value. I firmly believe we should all try to support the small independant business where we can and especially where they are offering a better service, value etc. Spread what money you have around the smaller businesses. That will keep the economy in better shape than running out to Dixons and buying a new TV just because the 15%VAT will take £5 off the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Interesting. Supporting local businesses is one of those things which I think is "a good idea", but I don't do it much. I do go to a farm shop in Basingstoke which does the best pies and sausages I've ever tasted. The missus says their black pudding is rather tasty too. The veg we've bought from there tends to last well, and tastes fine. For me, I don't use those shops more because the supermarkets are a "one-stop-shop", so I'm probably sacrificing quality and friendly service for convenience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 For me, I don't use those shops more because the supermarkets are a "one-stop-shop", so I'm probably sacrificing quality and friendly service for convenience. That is the key phrase isn't it, convenience... Given the current climate, we are currently looking at all the costs in the house and working out where the shed the excess (and there is plenty). I remember as a kid, my mom would pop out to the local butcher and purchase pretty much an entire cow, get it cut up and put it in the freezer, nowadays you buy as you need which can't be cheaper in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire148 Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 I think that you should support the local businesses that YOU want in YOUR local area. If you want a local butcher then go there and not Tesco's etc ... But I don't think that some businesses should be local, like warehouses stocking large items or electrical goods ... anything that can be sold cheaply online with a good support service should be, as it saves us all time, money and uses less resources. We lost our local shops about 2 years ago due to the site being redeveloped , and some (but not all) have been really missed, and we can't wait for the development to be finished. Can you imagine going to Tescos to get your haircut ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 I've moved from Tesco to Asda. The quality isn't really any different, but it is noticeably cheaper. I would support our local businesses, if we had any left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendor Posted November 25, 2008 Author Share Posted November 25, 2008 Can you imagine going to Tescos to get your haircut ? Why not. You can get pet/home/travel insurance, electrical goods, clothes, pharmacy - and food as well. It wont be long before the only choice is whatever the nationals give you. Dont get me wrong. I am not saying don't use the nationals. Just spread your cash around where you will find a different choice and service with small independant businesses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 I say everyone should shop at M&W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolarbag Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Can you imagine going to Tescos to get your haircut ? I know of an Asda that has had a barbers/hairdressers for years:d As to supporting local business', agree on the small items, but large items i.e expensive tele's, I'd prefer to know the company is still going to be there in a few years time to cover the warranty;) Although saying that, nothing is guaranteed nowadays Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Morrisons and Asda both have their head offices in my local area - does that count? I tend to shop wherever the best items are available, I'm happy to travel to get good bacon / sausage but at the moment that's covered by Sainsburys (Porky Whites sausage) and Morrisons (Oak Smoked Wiltshire bacon from the butcher bit) - my local "normal" butchers can't touch either item for taste or price. Bread - my local bakery wants twice as much as the supermarket for items that last half as long and don't taste as good... meh. However I do love a good fruit and veg shop as long as they aren't selling chemical packed crap from overseas. Having said this the local supermarkets (I have a a good choice of all the big names within a few miles) seem to be pretty good for such things if you ignore the tasteless apples. The problem is most local suppliers don't support their own local suppliers now in order to make more money, butchers get meat in from the wholesalers, the same with veg and so on - it's not a farmer selling to them anymore in my experience unless you go somewhere more remote. Do I have a duty to support the middle-man if I can go to his supplier directly? I wouldn't consider any local places for electrical goods I'm afraid, when it comes to stuff like that price is king. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazboy Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Given the choice of spending 40 minutes & £80 in a supermarket vs a few hours & £70 visiting local business then the supermarket wins hands down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbleapple Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Morrisons and Asda both have their head offices in my local area - does that count? OMG you live in my area!?!?!?! (Yes I did already know but I thought I should make it public so as people could be jealous!! ) I want someone to define local. There is a degree of irony in the whole subject... a hundred years ago the local shops would be different and the shops people are presently trying to save were those muscleing in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 I've always considered my local shops a lot more expensive. The market, now there's a good place to get fruit and veg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kopite Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 That is the key phrase isn't it, convenience... In the north east, there's a huge Tesco down the road from where i live so i normally to there. There's a little Bell's at the end of the estate but i don't bother with that uness it's to get just 1 item like a loaf of bread. You can't gurantee even getting that at Bell's because usually the stock is that low that the shelves are empty, plus parking is a nightmare if you try and stop on your way home from work. It's the same story here in Liverpool, i drive further to Tesco instead of just walking to the shops at the end of the road - reason being, the amount of times you can't find what you're after, i just go to Tesco because there's a much higher chance of getting all I need. Can you imagine going to Tescos to get your haircut ? It's interesting you say that. Tesco now do eye tests as well, i'm an optician and have done few days work at our local Tesco - their kit is just as good as the normal high street opticians and the staff there (who granted were just checkout girls at first) have had excellent training and know a lot more than the high street lot in general. BUT i still have a sense in my own mind that I wouldn't recommend going there to a family member, think it's just the stigma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snooze Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 The problem is most local suppliers don't support their own local suppliers now in order to make more money, butchers get meat in from the wholesalers, the same with veg and so on - it's not a farmer selling to them anymore in my experience unless you go somewhere more remote. The market, now there's a good place to get fruit and veg. Like michael says - it really depends on the market - all the fruit and veg stalls at the Guildford market seem to be selling the same imported wholesale stuff as the supermarkets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Like michael says - it really depends on the market - all the fruit and veg stalls at the Guildford market seem to be selling the same imported wholesale stuff as the supermarkets. Yeah, Guildford market isn't really a proper market anymore. Farnham used to have a brilliant one but they changed it for an indoor thingy which is rubbish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLicense Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Extendor, Out of interest what does your business do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendor Posted November 25, 2008 Author Share Posted November 25, 2008 Extendor, Out of interest what does your business do? Mechanical Design/Engineers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 I've just been over to Paris and while there looked into the large supermarkets, where they sold almost everything!! it was busy but not overly so. I also visited a couple of markets, where they sold a variety of different produce, and they were packed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave17 Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 The answer is Waitrose - quality food, honestly priced. And it really is quality food from a genuinely caring supermarket. Also, if you spend some money in there, your supporting my Supra! Now get in to your local one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Now get in to your local one. I would but it's 12 miles away - annoyingly that one was my local supermarket at one point but it was a crappy Safeways then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 The answer is Waitrose - quality food, honestly priced. And it really is quality food from a genuinely caring supermarket. Also, if you spend some money in there, your supporting my Supra! Now get in to your local one. I absolutely love waitrose. You're right, it's always really well priced food and the quality is fantastic. The staff are always really friendly too and they do amazing discounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendor Posted November 25, 2008 Author Share Posted November 25, 2008 I am sure there are some good large stores out there but what about the little guys. (I dont have a vested interest in this. My business is B2B). My point in raising this is that the little guys should receive a greater % of our custom and the cash should circulate around all the economy instead of always going into the huge profits of the nationals. Many of you have commented that you dont have local shops. Why is that? Are we prepared to lose even more small businesses in this recession. Dont forget that every business that dies stops paying tax, makes staff redundant and loses revenue for Non Domestic Rates and generally makes the place untidy. It forces you to travel in your car to out of town centres and eventually limits your choice to what you are offered. Come on you small business owners have your say. Try to get people to support you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave17 Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Around where i live we used to have a lovely little arcade of local shops, butchers, green grocers, fishmongers. They all disappeared when Tesco turned up just down the road. They never seemed to have a problem with my Waitrose and a Morrisons trading just up the road. I really liked the old school country feeling that the small shops had as well. I don't think anywhere around Caterham/Croydon has any small shops like that anymore. Tesco comes in - small business leaves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpie Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 The problem is most local suppliers don't support their own local suppliers now in order to make more money, butchers get meat in from the wholesalers, the same with veg and so on - it's not a farmer selling to them anymore in my experience unless you go somewhere more remote. My local supermarket does buy it's meat from Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire and Cumbria....the quality is very good but, at a price..... http://www.booths-supermarkets.co.uk/product/Meats I don't want to go back to the day's where your whole Saturday was spent shopping at the multiple shops you had to go to, in those days...I guess for me, TIME is the most precious commodity these days with a young family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 If it were practical to shop locally, then I'd be happy to. The big supermarkets sell tasteless rubbish of very variable quality, and their discounts are usually suspect - the last few "bargains" have been down to crappy stock being sold off cheap: 24 bottles of Stella for £10 sounds like a great deal until you pop the first one and it tastes like chemicals, rather than pleasant Belgian beer. Plus the big supermarkets do a lot to keep their money abroad and tax exempt - I read somewhere that tesco avoids something ridiculous like £1billion in tax every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.