Supporting local businesses - or not!

[annedonnelly]

Are you saying it isn't?

Maybe not, but they do grow tea in Scotland

 

[yello]

I love a refill shop.

Tbh, I was unaware such shops even existed until a few years back when I read about the one we go to. I didn't know they were a thing. I've seen shops selling lose grains, seeds, nuts etc as a part of their broader range but never a shop pretty much dedicated to it. Maybe more popular in the UK than France?? No idea, we are in a backwater.

 

[T4tomo]

Are you saying it isn't?

I've seen all the tea plantations on Ilkley moor, don't worry!

(I believe there actually is UK tea grown in Cornwall)

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Are you saying it isn't?

Tha knows it!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I think what bothered me was that I come across lots of people at local craft fairs selling stuff that is definitely home produced and I'd rather have spent my money with them. There's only so much marmalade I can buy! I'd already spent money in the cafe so I'd done my bit for them.

But here's the thing, did you actually enquire whether it was exactly the same jam/marmalade?

The stuff in the tearoom might have been made by a member of staff, but the shop branded thing might have been out - sourced for reliability of stock/supply. 🤷‍♂️
Did you ask?

 

[annedonnelly]

But here's the thing, did you actually enquire whether it was exactly the same jam/marmalade?

The stuff in the tearoom might have been made by a member of staff, but the shop branded thing might have been out - sourced for reliability of stock/supply. 🤷‍♂️
Did you ask?

No, I didn't ask and I haven't complained to them and I've made a point on here of not saying anything which could identify the shop/cafe. It's not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things. I was just having a whinge

 

[Hover Fly]

A fairly local pub in Cumbria sells its own beer, made in a shed round the back, at its bar, but the bottled stuff sold in nearby supermarkets is made in Oxfordshire.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

A fairly local pub in Cumbria sells its own beer, made in a shed round the back, at its bar, but the bottled stuff sold in nearby supermarkets is made in Oxfordshire.

Well, it would be difficult to supply the quantities needed to supply supermarkets from a shed round the back!
You must also consider the extra space needed for bottling, labelling, packaging the supermarket beer, health and hygiene requirements, staff rest space, etc.

 

[Rusty Nails]

If the owner of a large brewery lives in an apartment in the building can they genuinely claim their beer is homemade.

 

[classic33]

If I'm on holiday for example, yes it matters to me a lot. I like to mentally feel in touch with the area, and part of that is local foods and products. If it's not made there than I might as well get it in a shop back home. E.g of I was in Cornwall and bought a home made pasty that was made in Taplow, then I'd rather shop around for a local one. Even if they've used imported raw materials, the local methods and traditions of how it's made is part of the appeal

I've always tried to shop where the locals do, when I'm on holiday. And it's nearly always smaller, long established shops when in the country.
I've a simple system where I'll use them/their shop until they give me reason to think otherwise. I'd one shop I refused to use, which was also one local garage. The owners set up with the stated intention of closing every other local shop down. At one point all I got from there was the free air, until he tried charging me for it. And a rep asked him why.

I've given the shops I do use the English money I've had, when it's the only cash I did have. Telling them to take it at face value, nearly always at a slight loss, but I'd have to get it changed at a bank, when possible, and lose some then. When the £ was worth less than the IR£, most of them took it at face value. Only one didn't and even tried charging me for using it. I left the stuff on the counter, taking my trade and goodwill elsewhere.

I understood that the shop owners would be charged for changing it, hence the face value part. Some of those shops shut after their owners died, with no-one to take over it. But the majority are still there. I didn't try to take them for a ride, and the majority returned that simple piece of trust.

I might have been the visitor from a big town, but I didn't take them for a ride. Insisting on the exchange rate, which seemed to strike them as odd, but a fair customer.

 

[Windle]

A fairly local pub in Cumbria sells its own beer, made in a shed round the back, at its bar, but the bottled stuff sold in nearby supermarkets is made in Oxfordshire.

Coniston?

 

[Hover Fly]

Coniston?

Tick.