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Q&A » The economy
Santander has published some research on which local businesses are most important to us.
The local pub came top, with 47% of us saying it is the most valued local business.
Others in the top ten include newsagents, grocers, hairdressers, butchers and mechanics.
So I want to know which local businesses are most important to you? Which ones do you support? And why?
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14Depends on what you mean by local. I always buy UK produce if I possible can. But it is perfectly possible that by refusing to buy Dutch tomatoes and then buying Orkney cheese I am actually supporting a less local business. I go to the pub nearest to me (althought the next nearest I never go to is only another quarter of a mile down the road if that). I buy asparagus from the local farm and not from Chile. My car was not made in the west Midlands. My savings are in building societies in Coventry, Stafford, Keighley..... I could go on but it would be boring for us all
I think to get any sense out of this you need to be more specific.
Posted on 15 June 2012 |
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643I doubt that even 10% of the population are now regular or even infrequent pub goers, so perhaps the Santander survey was done in Ambridge, Weatherfield or Emmerdale?
Work on my car which I don't do myself is done by an independent garage run by a friend and he's only a quarter of a mile away. When I don't buy timber from a local merchant at the car boot sale I support an independent DIY store and builders' merchant in the town. They average half the price of B&Q and still drive seven series and a Porsche Cayenne, but then they are happy with only 100% mark up. Another friend runs an electrical wholesaler only a mile away, so that's anything electrical from him. I also buy regularly from a couple of clearance stores in the town. I'm having some tool storage products made by a local seamstress instead of buying from China, costing me twice the price, but better quality. Many of the fresh meats and vegetables sold by my local Asda and Morrisons are produced within ten miles of my home, so even supporting them counts as buying 'local'.
Posted on 15 June 2012 | Love 0 loves
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5I would love to live somewhere that actually had local businesses, my town has, newsagents and charity shop (which I do support), hardware store, computer repair shop, Seamstress, The Co-op, post office and Boots the chemist, that is it, no greengrocer, butcher, fishmonger, they have all closed down over the years. I cannot drink due to the tablets I take so the pub doesn't apply.
Posted on 15 June 2012 | Love 0 loves
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362My local garage, which is yards away, services our cars, and I buy our fresh meat from the local butchers.
In fact, their range of sausages puts the supermarket stock to shame. My favourite is Pork and Stilton, although Pork and Leek and Pork and Apple are also up there.
So yes, I do support local businesses when it is practicable.
Posted on 15 June 2012 | Love 0 loves
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643I do hope that was meant to be Pork and Leek....
Posted on 15 June 2012 | Love 0 loves
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46I buy my vegetables from the local farm shop, as I live in Lincolnshire. It's the only place I know which does not chill potatoes! Crime!. Asda and Tesco may sell stuff which comes from your local area (they certainly do here) but they are sent to a central depot first before being brought back by lorry. nice one. Lincolnshire co-op do local produce so I go the the village co-op for groceries and meat. We usually shop in the local ironmonger but although they do sell wood it is prohibitively expensive and we have a Diamond Card so B&Q on wednesday is cheaper for wood, I'm sorry to say. We do use our post office. Apart from a pub which exists mainly to promote Sky there's not much more. Oh, there is a butcher but it only opens a couple of days a week, and when I asked once for streaky bacon I was told it was only available at christmas! The butcher is out I'm afraid.
Posted on 15 June 2012 | Love 0 loves
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362 643Main Asda and Tesco distribution centres are 10 miles and 1 mile from me respectively so in my case any local produce hasn't gained too many miles. Also the main UK import centre for softwood and plywood from Scandinavia is only a mile away which does explain the cheap DIY materials. I do despise B and Q for their pricing, it is totally outrageous. It takes brass balls to sell a whole range of items identical those in the pound shops for £4 - £5 which means their cost is around 60p on those items max.
Posted on 15 June 2012 | Love 0 loves
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878In my village there is only one shop which sells any basic food and that is the sub post office and they only do emergency items at double the price of ASDA who are only 2 miles away.
The pub is a good social centre but mostly for people who don't live in the village.
There is a ladies hairdresser and a pampering parlour and the rest are restaurants (Indian, Italian, English (the pub) and coffee/light snacks).
And a builders merchant.
So not much available for me locally
However, we do grow our own fruit and veg - they taste much better! That is even more local.
Mike
Posted on 17 June 2012 | Love 0 loves
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10We try to support our local markets & corner shops, and the petrol stations. We have a long way to go to get sub-standard fuel at cut-price supermarkets, so we are grateful for the facility of local filling stations even if we pay a few pence more per litre. It will cost us dearly if we lose them (22 miles each-way to a cut-price station!). Local fruit & veg is always cheaper than those supposed half-price offers on over-priced stuff in the Co-op or Tesco. When did we last see blueberries at £4 a punnet. Don't kid me!!
We bought our TV & DVD player from the local shop and they have been out twice to help us with the more complicated fecets of the controls, no cost, no complaints. Shop local, keep our town centres alive, we should be taxing the out-of town car parks at the shopping centres!?
Posted on 16 August 2012 | Love 0 loves
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