Don’t Just Love Local, Support It!

I popped in to Waterstones at Fosse Park recently to buy Mary Portas’s new book, I Shop, Therefore I Am. Given she’s the queen of championing bricks and mortar stores, it didn’t feel right to order it online!

We don’t have a bookstore in our village, even though we have a thriving retail community. We have a library but I always forget it’s there. It’s away from the main thoroughfare so I guess out of sight is out of mind.

We’re lucky enough to live in a village with a mix of well over fifty retailers, eateries, salons and businesses. Sadly, over recent years, many villages lost their post office. Our village used to have a large standalone post office, but when news broke that it was closing down, our local convenience store took it on. What was once a 3 person counter is now a single counter, but it works, and I’m sure we are all grateful for it.

And post offices aren’t the only services villages have lost. Long gone are the convenience stores, butchers, bakers and greengrocers. The big supermarkets have squeezed out smaller retailers, while the online giants continue to drive prices down, often at a cost to workers both here and overseas.

Shopping local matters

Having been a shopkeeper myself, I know how much every customer who walks through the door means. It’s not just about making a sale; it’s also a little validation that what you’re doing matters to someone. And when you’re responsible for buying the stock, there’s a particular satisfaction in hearing someone say, ‘Ooh, I love this!’ It feels like a little win, a lovely moment of reassurance that the thought and care you put into choosing that item was worthwhile.

It’s one of the reasons I believe so strongly in supporting small independent stores. Whether you’re buying a simple greeting card or spending hundreds of pounds, every purchase contributes to someone’s livelihood and supports their way of life.

And that matters.

But it’s not just the shopkeeper who benefits. By supporting your local stores and businesses you’re helping to keep the lifeblood of your village or town flowing for your less mobile neighbours; those who have come to reply on local services.

With our busy lifestyles, it’s easy to overlook what’s right on our doorstep. I never take for granted the fact that we can step out of our house and, within three minutes, be in the centre of a bustling village which has pretty much everything we could need. What a privilege to have that on our doorstep, and what a difference it makes to village life. Especially during Covid!

I also love the fact we know many of the shopkeepers by name - we have a natter and a catch up, and often there’s some village gossip!

Of course, small independent businesses face real challenges, and rising rental costs can make it difficult for them to survive, let alone flourish. But wouldn’t it be wonderful to see more of them thriving again? To see our villages become places where local produce, makers, creators and independent shopkeepers are once again at the heart of the community.

Because when we support our independent shops, we’re doing more than buying something. We’re helping to keep our communities alive.

Make a difference this weekend

So, this coming weekend, why not seek out a local independent shop near you? Perhaps there’s one you’ve never visited, or maybe it’s been a while since you last crossed their threshold.

Step inside, have a browse and, if you can, make a purchase, however small. You never know, you might discover a little gem right on your doorstep.

I’d love to hear about your experience, so please feel free to drop me a message and tell me about the shops you visit.

Let’s make a little difference this weekend to a small independent business in our local community. Because once they’re gone, they’re gone, and wouldn’t it be lovely if we could help a few more of them stay?

EJ x