Does 'Shopping local' ever save you money?

[Jon]

I've often thought about this.
Today I needed to get 3 keys cut. There are multiple places in the middle of Leeds I could use however Morrisons have a Key Cutting Robot which does 3 keys for £10. You simply put the key in, it scans it and then makes Yale copies for you. The local shoe clipping / key cutting place want more money and is staffed by a guy who generally grunts at you offering less customer service than I get from the key cutting robot!!

Is shopping local really a good thing to do if you are trying to keep costs down?

 

[homie]

Good question.

The farm shop near my house is about a 5 min walk away. Potatoes and carrots are cheaper there. Everything else is cheaper at Tesco or Lidl. So I just buy potatoes and carrots from them.

I would like to support local shops more but its hard when you're on a budget. I used to use my local bike shop because they are helpful and its handy having it nearby, but pretty much everything they sell plus a million more things can be found online at up to 50% off.

 

[Jon]

Oooh that's a tricky one with your farm shop. Like you said if the rest of the stuff you get from a supermarket it makes it a bit too 'faffy' to just go to someone local to get 1 or 2 things.

I tell you the one area though I think it can work out well and that's Cafes. I've found some AMAZING 'own brand' cafes that so fantastic food that the chain ones (costa, starbucks etc) don't touch!!

 

[Queen Jess]

It's a difficult one. Where food is concerned, there are a few lovely farm shops near us which I only go to as a treat as they are really expensive (although food quality is excellent). I think I would go more if they were more expensive than the supermarket but the differential wasn't quite as large. Sometimes I do order from Riverford, which again are expensive, but it is nice treat every now and again and isn't as expensive as the farm shop if you get a veg box. If I had lots more money I would love to do all my shopping in these places!

Funny you mention a bike shop... there is one where we live and it is brilliant. My husband uses it all the time (I'm not a cyclist).

 

[geebobuk]

Oooh that's a tricky one with your farm shop. Like you said if the rest of the stuff you get from a supermarket it makes it a bit too 'faffy' to just go to someone local to get 1 or 2 things.

I tell you the one area though I think it can work out well and that's Cafes. I've found some AMAZING 'own brand' cafes that so fantastic food that the chain ones (costa, starbucks etc) don't touch!!

I'm fully with you on this. In Halifax we have a few places like this in the town centre where you can get quality food/drink at a much lower price than the chains you mention.

 

[David Says...]

'Cost' isn't just the price that you pay. There's also the 'opportunity cost'.

Nipping into the village and shopping at local stores might cost a fiver extra - but it might be an hour quicker.

What else could you do in that hour? Could you write a blog post that'll generate £75 revenue over the next 12 months? Send out an email to your subscribers and turn £200 worth of sales? Do a WhatUsersDo test and a handful of Prolific surveys for £15? Contact half a dozen prospects for advertising on your directory - one of which turns into a client paying £15/mo?

There's also the networking opportunity. With the greatest respect to supermarket checkout staff, there's not much opportunity to make money from them - local business owners on the other hand could be looking for help which you can provide them with.

One other reason for shopping locally: sometimes we take them for granted, but are reassured that they exist. Shopping there today might help them be there when you *really* need them next month or next year.

 

[Jon]

It's a difficult one. Where food is concerned, there are a few lovely farm shops near us which I only go to as a treat as they are really expensive (although food quality is excellent). I think I would go more if they were more expensive than the supermarket but the differential wasn't quite as large. Sometimes I do order from Riverford, which again are expensive, but it is nice treat every now and again and isn't as expensive as the farm shop if you get a veg box. If I had lots more money I would love to do all my shopping in these places!

Funny you mention a bike shop... there is one where we live and it is brilliant. My husband uses it all the time (I'm not a cyclist).

I needed my bike servicing a year or two back and the local non-chain bike shop in North Leeds wanted about £45 more than Halfords or Evans Cycles..

I can't think what argument I could use to justify spending an additional £45 for what is going to be the same service for my bike at any of them

 

[Jon]

'Cost' isn't just the price that you pay. There's also the 'opportunity cost'.

Nipping into the village and shopping at local stores might cost a fiver extra - but it might be an hour quicker.

What else could you do in that hour? Could you write a blog post that'll generate £75 revenue over the next 12 months? Send out an email to your subscribers and turn £200 worth of sales? Do a WhatUsersDo test and a handful of Prolific surveys for £15? Contact half a dozen prospects for advertising on your directory - one of which turns into a client paying £15/mo?

There's also the networking opportunity. With the greatest respect to supermarket checkout staff, there's not much opportunity to make money from them - local business owners on the other hand could be looking for help which you can provide them with.

One other reason for shopping locally: sometimes we take them for granted, but are reassured that they exist. Shopping there today might help them be there when you *really* need them next month or next year.

Yeah i'm gonna think about any of that when i decide if i am going to travel deep into the Yorkshire Dales or to my local Tesco Extra.

I imagine online shopping is also killing local trade as well as heck, you don't even hand to step foot outside your house!

 

[Queen Jess]

I needed my bike servicing a year or two back and the local non-chain bike shop in North Leeds wanted about £45 more than Halfords or Evans Cycles..

I can't think what argument I could use to justify spending an additional £45 for what is going to be the same service for my bike at any of them

I actually think our one is very reasonably priced and isn't more expensive, but don't quote me on that as I am not much of a cyclist!