Is anyone else planning on shopping local this year?

[MrsKingfisher]

I am a pretty conscious person when it comes to supporting small businesses. This year I feel it's more important to shop local for presents etc.

Anyone else doing the same?

Yup - in fact just bought half a dozen presents this afternoon at a lovely local bookshop/homewares shop/deli. There's a long running thread about the marvellousness of Amazon and it's doing my head in.

Yes, I have changed the way I shop since March. I will be buying all food gifts from a new veg box start up business, my friend has a baking business, another does wax melts, a small fashion retailer has set up in the village too. Lots to choose from. I've got my cards from a Phoenix trading rep and books from an Usborne rep ( not technically local but money goes to a local rep at least). I will also be making lots to sell and making gifts

Maybe we need a small business thread to share what we've found?

Yep! Already bought some from tkmaxx pre lockdown, but the rest I’m getting from local independent shops in Dec. Got some great bits at the garden centre today. And we now get a weekly veg box from a local farm.

This year has made me want to actually live in alignment with my values. No more Amazon!

There's an online independent shop thread here.

I will be buying food locally (farm shop) but not many gifts, we don’t have many shops near by other than a garden centre which does have some nice bits but a bit pricey.

Anything on my list I am phoning local independents and saying "I don't ever want to buy anything from Amazon again - is there anything on my list you can help me with?"

The service has been incredible. I am totally never buying anything from Amazon ever again.

I am buying what I can from independents be that online or in store. If I can't get something from them I am buying from a bricks and mortar store rather than online even if that bricks and mortar store is a chain.

Even if you (generic you) can't do it all at locals or independents, some is better than none. The frustrating thing about the amazon thread is that some of the amazon supporters seem to be so all or nothing.

I’d love to. We have a great Facebook page advertising our small shops . My town has good independents although leaning towards very expensive women’s clothes shops and interior design places.

Only problem is that they only seem to open between 10am and 4pm. I did mention this on said Facebook image but there was a barrage of defensive comments as if I had suggested burning down the high street. No, it’s just me, like most people will be out at work.

I mean great some do “appointments” but I would feel uncomfortable asking a shop to open at 6pm if I then didn’t buy something (I’m the customer, I’m allowed to feel uncomfortable before anyone says get over it).. And what if I’ve never been in your shop before and don’t really know what you sell?

Small shops need good websites, windows that actually show what they can sell you and a shift in hours.

I like the idea but local high street is literally coffee shops, pound shop, card shop and charity shops. There is not one single "independent" shop. I could shop in my next town which has a lovely high street but obviously all closed due to covid, no online presence for the department store.

I'm planning on holding out to buy from the local toy shop in December but I feel it's cutting it close for Xmas!

A lot of small shops will be doing click and collect while closed. If you don’t have independents near you then there are lots of small shops all over the country with online stores who would be glad of your support. It may not be your community that benefits but it is a community and that’s got to be better than Bezos adding to his billions.