Shopping Local Is Work!
Guidelines for those who may want to implement more local shopping habits!
I’ve been thinking about holiday shopping and my sentiments from my last stack—how you spend your money tells me who you are and what your priorities are in life. Finances have a way of reflecting the bigger picture of our souls. Overspend on frivolity and you’re probably a vapid person. Spend money on things that will provide stability, peace, and joy in your life, and you’re probably a more serious person.
After Andrew and I got married and settled in North Country, I evaluated my spending habits in and frankly, they did not reflect my values—or I should say, my actions did not match my idealized self. I can proudly say now it’s been much improved, but—we still have a ways to go. So for anyone else on this journey of shopping local, here are some spending principals we implement.
Avoid big box stores as realistically as possible. Target, Walmart, Costco, etc. are all places we avoid. (Yes, even Costco.) These stores take resources from your community and funnel them into a large corporation that may or may not help the world. By forcing yourself to stop buying things in these stores, you naturally find local or smaller alternatives that likely promote your values more effectively, or at least put money in your neighbors’ pocket.
Buy what you can from someone you or your neighbors know. Start with your food. No matter where you are—city or country, there are farms within an hour or two of you, and the great thing is most of them ship now. Most of your meat and in-season produce, can be sourced right near you. The best part, if you find some regional farms nearby you cut out the middleman (Costco, Walmart) and support your local economy.
Choose quality over price (within reason). Any time you can choose to purchase a more expensive, high-quality item in lieu of something that may work but unlikely to be durable, go with the quality item. Of course, this is all subject to your realistic budget and what you plan to use the item for, but that last thing anyone needs is more cheap junk that lasts a few months only to end up in landfill and be replaced with another junk purchase.
I repeat, these are guidelines. Sometimes other priorities over shopping local take precedence—if your financial situation requires you live with a very tight budget or if you simply do not have the time, then this type of quest should take a backseat.
Another reason I find this so important is not only do I run a small business, but a number of my clients and friends are also small business owners. I personally know what it takes to build a business, but I also get to see others in all phases of building and growing theirs.
With that sentiment, I thought I would include a list of small businesses where I shop or with whom I’ve worked. Especially since it is the holiday season, and we are all looking to finish our shopping—take a peek at these and see if you can’t find something for yourself or others!
Small Businesses You Can Support
Pastry Pedaler (San Diego, CA) Dana Weimar is the owner and visionary behind Pastry Pedaler. Baking has been a cornerstone of her life, a cherished tradition that has helped her forge deep connections with the women in her family. Her delectable creations have graced fundraisers for local non-profits like So Say We All & the San Diego Peace Corps Association.
Suzi’s Sweets (Ships Nationwide) Susan Schuyler makes the most delicious candy such as fudge, peanut butter bon bons, chocolate covered easter eggs, and many more. She takes order online and can ship around the country.
Nikki Meer Photography (Virginia Beach, serving all of Hampton Roads) Nikki is a photographer, mom of 3, creative, and memory collector. Her passion is creating meaningful photographs that are genuine and full of connection. She creates photos that you can cherish and that feel lived in.
H Design Source (San Diego Region) Heidi Creekmur is an independent manufacturer’s representative, who represents an array of vendors who manufacture architectural materials and furnishings for hospitality and commercial spaces. She works with contractors and developers in the commercial design community.
Claire Solorio (San Diego, CA) Claire is a Leadership, Career, and Life Coach who guides professionals to see blind-spots, achieve goals, and create higher levels of success in business and life. Her approach is solution-oriented and client-centered. She creates a safe space for her clients to process and identify what is important for them as they grow professionally and personally.
Colleen Robinson (San Deigo County) Colleen is an Estate Planning attorney who works with clients in protecting their families (and assets) from court and conflict. She engages with her clients to find out (and plan for) their goals and to take the fear out of planning for the future. Colleen’s practice is especially family-focused: her plans are tailored to help her clients create a legacy for their loved ones.
Pet Wants (San Diego, CA) Tammy and Peter have opened a pet store that focuses on natural food and treats for your fur baby. Pet Wants was founded on the belief that mainstream, big-box store pet food wasn’t synonymous with nutrition or quality. So they created a proprietary product that offers transparency of ingredients and sourcing. Plus, their staff is knowledgeable and caring when it comes to treating your pets.
Market on Main (Sackets Harbor, NY, Ships Nationwide) Kelly Clark owns and operates this lifestyle boutique, carrying designer home goods, body care products, gourmet pantry items, and Sackets Harbor branded merchandise. Kelly features North Country regional and fair trade goods. This is my favorite store in North Country!
For anyone who has gone on this quest, you know that shopping local, and supporting small business can be both more costly (if we are just talking about price) and less convenient. However, the connections you make with business owners and their community can be invaluable. I encourage you all to consider where you could buy from a small shop this holiday season!
Thanks for the reminder. Living in a metropolitan area makes it more difficult to shop locally. Living in a small community for almost 30 years made it so much easier and fun to shop locally. Many times you are supporting people who are your friends.