After a fantastic quarter with a local client and watching its customer-base grow nationally, I've been thinking about what it means to "Buy Local." I should start by stating that I self-identify as a passionate Buy-Localista. I love both the economic and sentient value of purchasing things that were made as close to me and on as small of a scale as possible. If I could buy drier filters handmade in my neighbor's home, I would.
But what then when our neighbor's burgeoning drier filter boutique grabs national attention? Aren't we proud of her? Don't we agree with the five hundred families in Santa Monica and 300 families in Austin who now order her product and sing her praises on Twitter?
If the push to buy local is to keep local money circulating in our local economy, and we consider this concept at least quasi-political, does that mean we find the families in Santa Monica and Austin now putting money into our economy politically amoral? Does it make us hypocrites to valiantly encourage all of our neighbors to buy local, but also feel gratitude toward neighbors who are able to push their product beyond our boundaries? And what are those boundaries? City, county, state? What defines local?
I have thoughts on this, but would much rather hear yours.
Jen Wright is a Social Media Strategist who buys locally, but asks questions everywhere she goes.
I think “buy local” is a state of mind. If locals make a comparable product, then it is better to buy support your neighbor. If a product is made better elsewhere, that’s just the way it goes. When it comes to business, it is about competition at the end of the day.
For me, my focus for “buy local” mainly hovers around food. In terms of diet, it is just best to buy the food that is made closest to you. When it comes to putting money towards other things, I would prefer the business be remarkable. I want to encourage quality. Buying local does nothing, if we just blindly do it. We cannot lose sight of the mission of free enterprise, which promotes innovation and evolution.
If it’s made here and the money comes here encouraging local businesses to hire more local people to meet non-local demand, it would be loco to think that’s not good!
Hubert,
If it’s ok, I’m just going to respond with, Yeah, what he said. I feel the same. I’m so thrilled when my favorite in any category is locally made, but I believe in healthy competition and I personally don’t want anyone paying me for what I produce just because they feel they should. I want them thrilled. Pandering never got anyone anywhere.
And I also agree with the local food for health. Growth retardants are lethal, so produce grown and sold locally is the way to go.
Thanks so much for talking this through with me.
Jen
Russ,
Also agreed. I don’t feel one bit guilty about bringing outside money inside when we’re making something everyone loves.
And I’m going to swipe your “Buy Loco” slogan. Love it!
Thanks for popping in and reading,
Jen