Walmart the story.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

This is worth a read we are heading this way.

How to destroy the West Coast.

To change this senario, and to destroy local, purchase from big business that is not locally owned, or go to the city and purchase from a large chain store, and the profits go to the share holders.

If you don’t own shares in the company ‘why buy from them’ they are cheaper, ask yourself how much cheaper, ultimatly big business will destroy small towns read about walmart (I will tell you more about Walmart in future postings) in America, a similar situation is growing in South Africa, with the like s of Makro & Game (to mention 2) and large shopping centres. Shopping centres give the likes of Game the rental for 10% of what you pay for the same space rented in the same shopping mall they call them anchor tenants, where do the profits go? Back too the share holders, the local economy does not grow. But you may argue that they create jobs, and yes they do, but if the local business was supported it would also grow and create jobs, with better conditions and pay for the employee’s. Think before you buy from a chain store that doesn’t support the local cummunity.

I have owned my small business on the West Coast for 36 months now, and one think which is very apparent is the amount of businesses and retail shoppers are willing to travel to Cape Town 120km away to do there business.

There is a perception that its cheaper?

I would like to try and bring it home to business owners that shopping local boast the whole economy of a small town, and ultimately leads to better prices more jobs, more spenders in the local community hence a massive knock on effect.

The 120km

If you buy your new TV from the local store, and everybody else does the same, this store will get busy, he will be in a position to negotiate better prices from the distributor/importer he will also have to employ more staff to help with the busy store these new staff will spend there money in your store! Seems like a basic idea. But it doesn’t work like that WHY NOT, why do we get in our car drive 100km to Makro or HiFi Corporation WHY do we get better prices, better selection, better service. I don’t think so its just a perception. Did you save any money driving those 120km time, wear and tear on the vehicle.

How do you encourage clients to buy local?

Shop West Coast

What does it mean to shop locally!
You support the local micro economy, and your business will grow, more people will have jobs, less crime, the list is endless.
Sounds simple, right, wrong!