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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Please please try and help your small local shops..

27 replies

Confuzzeled · 11/12/2010 17:34

This is a plea from a small business owner. It has been a hard year for us all and the weather hasn't helped.

But if you do one thing this Christmas, buy even just one gift from a small independent shop. It would help families like mine instead of lining the pockets of rich investors.

I have one friend who did all her Christmas shopping at Tesco Direct. She is always complaining that there is not enough choice for clothes shops or toy shops locally, but there certainly won't be if she buys everything at Tesco.

Pretty please with sparkly magic dust on top.

OP posts:

tingletangle · 11/12/2010 17:34

I agree 100%, we buy as much as we can from local small retailers. It makes shopping so much more pleasant.

BelligerentGhoul · 11/12/2010 17:38

I bought a lovely present from my friend from local indie gift shop today, plus some bits from the Farmers' Market. But I also sinned and spent rather more than I intended in Waitrose.

And I tried to buy rye bread form the local deli - but they hadn't got any!

GypsyMoth · 11/12/2010 17:42

will bear that in mind!!

i keep my milkman on,even tho its very expensive compared to supermarkets,but they struggle as it is,so i have a few pints a week

DurhamDurham · 11/12/2010 17:43

I buy what I like and can afford. It might be from a local shop or it might come from Asda. However I refuse to feel guilty about using supermarkets. I have to think of my own family before I start worrying about whether the local shop keeper is doing alright. I went to a local Christmas gift event today and it was so expensive. All v nice but I just could not afford the prices. There were at least 10 things I would have bought if they had been a few pounds cheaper.

Original poster

Confuzzeled · 11/12/2010 17:53

I certainly don't expect anyone to feel guilty about buying from a supermarket. I just want people to look at the bigger picture.

Supermarkets have huge buying power and can get goods at much cheaper rates, they're usually out of town and pay lower rent and rates.

Small shops like ours have huge rent and rates to stay on the high street where people can get to us easily.

If people don't use the local shops then they will simply close and we'll be left with just the supermarkets. Look at Walmart in the states. If your not fussed about that then there is no need to feel guilty.

My problem is with people who want and expect choice but are not willing to pay a little extra for it and complain when it's gone.

OP posts:

GypsyMoth · 11/12/2010 22:28

The big tesco doesn't remember the names of my children like the local butcher did. Sadly. It's those small touches we lose

Mousesmummy · 11/12/2010 22:57

I ALWAYS use my local bookshop instead of WHSmith as the prices are exactly the same and I'd rather give them the money.
And they are so helpful - something that if required I would pay extra for.

Mousesmummy · 11/12/2010 23:00

Just to add I bought for Christmas a new boxed set of books for dd1 when I could have bought them MUCH cheaper on Amazon second hand. I did wince at price difference I admit!
But on balance I agreed with OP and want to keep my local bookshop.

SnowMuchToBits · 11/12/2010 23:08

I regularly use my local bucher, baker and greengrocer (and usedthe fishmonger until it closed, due to the people who ran it retiring and couldn't find anyone else to take it on).

I have already placed my Christmas order at the butchers, and will be visiting the baker and greengrocer on 23rd Dec for all my requirements (although I go to those shops every week anyway).

Will also be buying my cheeses from the wonderful cheese shop in town (and have bought a few presents from them too).

Main trouble for present buying is that there are very few independent shops left in our town, nearly all chains. Our excellent independent bookshop (which also sold classical CDs) closed down a few years ago.

BelligerentGhoul · 11/12/2010 23:25

at you having a lovely cheese shop near you!

SnowMuchToBits · 11/12/2010 23:29

The cheese shop is in Ipswich (which isn't really a posh area for shopping, but somehow the cheese shop seems to survive). It's very good, loads of interesting cheeses and other nice food items, and the staff are really healpful.

BelligerentGhoul · 11/12/2010 23:32

Doubt I'll be going to Ipswich in the near future tbh (am in Birmingham) - will have to settle for the deli!

stleger · 11/12/2010 23:43

Yes please do - I work in a small independent bookshop, a lovely place to browse and discover things by chance, and have a chat! I'm not in the UK, so we have different multiples - but if you look at the prices of books which chains have on books in the 3 for 2 offers, they tend to increase the price of the individual titles, thus decreasing your saving. A huge percentage of any money you spend locally stays locally (my wages), so it is a great way to support where you live .

SnowMuchToBits · 11/12/2010 23:56

I always did support the local bookshop when we had one, but sadly it is now gone .

Ditto a great number of local shops selling food items (greengrocers, butchers, hardware shops etc). I bought from them all, but sadly I was in the minority. I also still have milk delivery, despite the fact it's more expensive than supermarket milk, but I don't drive, so having the delivery is important to me.

IAmRubyLennox · 12/12/2010 08:58

We have bought all three DCs bikes for Christmas, we got them from the local, small independent bike shop.

We went in there in the first place because we didn't know what size bikes they would need, or what our options were.

The guy in there was so helpful and spent ages with us, plus went out of his way to be subtle so that the DCs didn't realise what we were doing.

We could probably get each recommended bike online for £20 - £30 less, but we didn't think it was fair to take advantage of someone's time and expertise, and then not give them your business.

If shops like this go out of business, what do we do the next time we need help and advice?

SuePurblybiltByElves · 12/12/2010 09:06

Tis true. My local town has resisted all supermarkets for years and has two bakers, two butchers and easily four greengrocers (trying to think). A pharmacy, a hardware store, a theatre/cinema, book shop, gift shops and a good market. How long would all that last if Tescos moved in?

I have to use online shopping once a month (no car) but I like small shops. DD can barely make it out of one without being given something

Original poster

Confuzzeled · 12/12/2010 09:28

It's so good to know there are so many of you out there who still use independent shops.

We've had people come in and tell us they only want to try stuff on so they can then buy it online cheaper, drives me crazy how low some people go.

The town where my Mum lives got a Tesco a few years ago, the local bakery, fish monger, deli and freezer shop all closed. Funny the butcher is still doing really well as everyone says the meat in Tesco is rubbish.

OP posts:

asdx2 · 12/12/2010 09:34

Will be buying my turkey and ham from the local butcher, the bread from the bakery and my veg from the market.
A new Tesco Extra opened last week not 500 yards away from these shops. I fear their days are numbered particularly because the buses have been diverted to drop off and pick up outside the store.
I like the personal touch, the butcher will trim bone and dress any cut, has great tips. The bakery is warm and friendly, they know your order as you walk through the door.Buying from a supermarket just isn't the same.

SnowMuchToBits · 12/12/2010 09:38

I agree asdx2 - in the butcher and greengrocer they know my name, and ds's name and will be very helpful with recommendations etc. The butcher will trim/cut up/mince anything you want. And once I turned up at the bakers without quite enough money to pay for my purchases - they just said don't worry you can pay next time you're in. You wouldn't get that with a supermarket!

LynetteScavo · 12/12/2010 09:41

I love that we still have some small independent shops in our town.

I've also heard that by 2015 there will be no independent shops left. Maybe not by 2015, but sadly there are fewer and fewer independents each year.

For some reason I have to buy my turkey from an independent butcher.....it just seems wrong not to.

nannynick · 12/12/2010 09:55

I've ordered meat from a local farm, they deliver once it's ready.
Will be doing shopping today in the village shops, as I really don't think I can stand going to a large supermarket.

My sister wanted a white gravy boat - found several in my local small chain (they have 3 stores in local towns) cookware shop. Independent shops can often have things you can't find in big chains... as some lines may not sell many.

nannynick · 12/12/2010 10:05

Village next to mine is having a large housing development - with space allocated to a large supermarket. Locals are upset, we don't want a large supermarket - there are already many within easy drive distance. Something smaller like a Budgens (which are independently run) and a selection of small low rent retail units would be better we feel. How to convince town planning though - that's the problem. I do wonder how much money a supermarket chain gives to things like highways improvements which helps infuluence things. Highways should not be funded by supermarkets, if the roads can't take the traffic, then the development should be scaled down.

Going a bit off topic I know but it's the way town planning works now - they don't make provision for small shops, they only set aside land for a large supermarket!

ForFestiveSake · 12/12/2010 10:06

I made a point of shopping in independent stores or from sahm with businesses - my niece and nephew are getting fantastic hat and mittens sets knitted for etc.

I also always use the local greengrocer - my kids love him as he lets them have a banana everytime we go in there. Plus, he saves the scraps of leaves and reduced food for my rabbits. It's the service like this that makes my day a little less robotic tbh.

SnowMuchToBits · 12/12/2010 10:15

I also find that at Christmas it's far nicer to go and collect the meat from the local butcher and go and buy the vegetables from the greengrocer. It's busy in there, but not the mad hell which happens in supermarkets just before Christmas.

I do an internet shop for all my non-perishables, which arrives several days before Christmas, and then I don't have to set foot in a supermarket until well after Christmas, as I get all my fresh stuff from the butcher, baker and greengrocer.

nymphadora · 12/12/2010 11:21

We go to bakers/greengrocers almost daily on the school run. 2 good butchers in town too plus a good 'pileithighsellitcheap' independent for sweets/crisps/ pop etc.

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