Support Small Business?

[RedViking]

"Support small businesses" "shop local, local is lekker" "paying little bit more, you are supporting local family and friends"

Social media promotes it. You local ward councillor promotes it. Small business good. Big busines evil.

Why must you support small business?

It's expensive.
Slow.
Not a lot of variety.

Bigger businesses employ a lot more people and feed a lot more families. Do they not need our support specially during these hard times.

Do you go out of your way to support small businesses?

Is big business worth not supporting?

 

[RedViking]

Personally, I know people in big businesses and small businesses. Small businesses does not always mean good service. Good service does not mean you can charge ridiculous prices.

I prefer to go where I get the best service at a reasonable price, small or big, a lot of the time it is at bigger stores. But some excellent small businesses as well, and reasonably priced.

I also don't see the point in spending 20-30% more just because it is a small business.

Big business is not bad.

 

[WAslayer]

I support who ever has whatever I need/want at a price I can afford.. and anything I have ever imported, had never been made here, so no local option to choose from..

Also, I bought a LK's braai from PnP the other day.. If I had the opportunity, I would have bought it directly from them but, their website did not seem to have an online shop.. I didn't support them directly, but PnP may decide to order some more of those braais if they sell out, so I supported them indirectly..

I think the same is true for a lot of other SA goods.. We are indirectly supporting those who distribute through the bigger businesses, so long as bigger businesses continue to order from them..

Also, we are in the age of the online store and there should be no reason why small businesses are not trying to sell online in some way too..

 

[3WA]

Small business can excel at certain things - e.g. a well-run specialist butcher or baker will be miles ahead of a supermarket.

Then of course there’s my local bar which is either a small business or else an elaborate money-laundering operation.

But I wouldn't support a small business just on principle if a large business offered the same at better price.

 

[RedViking]

Small business can excel at certain things - e.g. a well-run specialist butcher or baker will be miles ahead of a supermarket.

Then of course there’s my local bar which is either a small business or else an elaborate money-laundering operation.

But I wouldn't support a small business just on principle if a large business offered the same at better price.

When it comes to fresh products, a lot of times small business do give the best products. I still think it should be reasonably priced as well.

 

[3WA]

When it comes to fresh products, a lot of times small business do give the best products.

Yes, and you can develop a relationship with them more easily. My parents have a green-grocer who lets them know as soon as he gets a shipment of something they’ll like.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Small business, big business, all competition.

Generally I support where I am best serviced, so I do shop around, and I am hardly loyal.

To be honest, where I shop, location is important and so is convenience and accessibility. Big or small, they all have their bureaucracy and non-disclosures.

 

[muisnes]

Personally, I know people in big businesses and small businesses. Small businesses does not always mean good service. Good service does not mean you can charge ridiculous prices.

I prefer to go where I get the best service at a reasonable price, small or big, a lot of the time it is at bigger stores. But some excellent small businesses as well, and reasonably priced.

I also don't see the point in spending 20-30% more just because it is a small business.

Big business is not bad.

I agree with most of what you have said. Price is king and bad service should never be supported financially.

With that said...

I live in a small plattelandse dorpie by choice. Money spent locally at small business is money feeding the owners and paying their employees’ salaries - friends of ours or the parents of our children’s friends.

Local small business also supports our schools & community with donations & other financial support.

Money spent at big business mostly goes to fatcat CEO salaries or investors with minimal effect on our local economy.

Given the same product or service at more or less the same price (let’s say within 10 % or so), I will rather support my friends and boost the local economy via small business than have my hard earned rands disappear in big business.

 

[RedViking]

I agree with most of what you have said. Price is king and bad service should never be supported financially.

With that said...

I live in a small plattelandse dorpie by choice. Money spent locally at small business is money feeding the owners and paying their employees’ salaries - friends of ours or the parents of our children’s friends.

Local small business also supports our schools & community with donations & other financial support.

Money spent at big business mostly goes to fatcat CEO salaries or investors with minimal effect on our local economy.

Given the same product or service at more or less the same price (let’s say within 10 % or so), I will rather support my friends and boost the local economy via small business than have my hard earned rands disappear in big business.

But how many people work at the big business?

Let's remove the big(er) businesses.

That is when a town dies.

I understand the personal connections, but to promote big business evil and small business good is really silly. (I know that is not what your are saying)

 

[Fulcrum29]

But how many people work at the big business?

Let's remove the big(er) businesses.

That is when a town dies.

I understand the personal connections, but to promote big business evil and small business good is really silly. (I know that is not what your are saying)

Yeah, but there are 'evil' corps, big and small.

 

[SauRoNZA]

And always closed on public holidays and Sundays.

 

[maumau]

I happily pay more to get good service.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I happily pay more to get good service.

Right, so Amazon it is.