Why I Support Local

Last week I introduced you to my new series "I Support Local". If you missed it, you can read all about it here: I Support Local: Introduction.

I wanted someone very special for the first interview...so I chose me. I thought it would be a great opportunity for you to read a little more about me and why I feel that supporting local business is so important.

Who are you?

I'm a full-time Mum of one beautiful, though somewhat energetic, three-year old. When I'm not rescuing toys from the toilet, I write quilt patterns. In a previous life I was employed in various roles in IT from development to help desk to project management. My experience with delivering training and writing manuals obviously rubbed off on me and has come in very handy for my pattern writing. Lucky for me, the topics I now write about are a little more exciting than in the past.

What is your business?

My actual business, where I make the big bucks (or at least little bucks...one day...hopefully) is with pattern writing. Sometimes I write for myself with my own designs, other times I will write for someone else. It all depends on which opportunity comes knocking at my door. Eventually I'd like to write for more businesses and expand my repertoire to include delivering quilting classes for beginners.

Why do you think supporting local business is important?
Like most people, I think supporting local business is important for employment, the economy, tourism and whatever else is usually added to the list.

Personally though, I just love seeing unique and interesting stores when I'm out and about (or online). Shopping has become a rather depressing experience lately, as small specialty stores are closing down to make way for the big names. I remember when "going into town" was a big deal as it had all the fancy stores that your local area, with it's pokey little everybody-knows-your-name shops didn't have. Now? Suburb, town, visiting a new city...it doesn't matter. They're all the same. Sure, you can always find what you need, but where's the fun? Where's the uniqueness that makes one town stand out from the rest? 

This may not seem like a very important issue, but to me it is. It's the difference between having life and actually living. It's the pink shirt in a sea of beige. I don't want to wear what everyone else is wearing. I don't want to read what everyone else is reading. I want to walk into that corner store with the faded sign and weird smell and know that I'll be greeted with a warm smile and a genuine interest in the reason for my visit. A part of our world is fading away and I would dearly love to see it shine once more.

Do you have any suggestions on how we can support local business more?

I think the number one thing you can do to support local business, aside from simply buying all their stock every week, is to tell people. Yup, simply talk about it. Know of a great fabric store? Tell the Facebook group you're a member of. Friends talking about nothing to do on the weekend? Let's all go to the local markets. Someone complaining about postage from an overseas site? Well, just stop right there buckaroo, You can buy all you need from thisfabulousstore.com.AU. Someone needs a quilt pattern written? Tell them about this fantastic blogger/pattern writer tha... *ahem*...sorry...got a bit carried away there.

The point is, you don't have to be a paying customer to show your support. Word of mouth does wonders for small business. Whether they're suppliers, producers, designers, writers, it doesn't matter. They need your to help to be seen.

On that note I leave you with one very simple task. Promote an Australian business. Buy from them, like their Facebook page, share a link, do whatever you want, but take that one step to keeping our country unique for more than it's crazy looking native animals and killer spiders.