Shop Local - Part One

Every single day at work it drives me bonkers when I see someone waltzing excitedly across the floor with a 'freshly' made Subway 6" under their arm.

Honestly, every single day I see at least one person having a Subway, and Im fairly sure this is all some people have throughout the month. I ask myself how did they survive before the new franchise was so conveniently installed  next door to our office? What did they eat before then?

What annoys me is the seeming vacuum of consumer decision making. Folk survived happily enough for years without the daily need for this particular American chain of fast food, so why now? I never used to see hardly anyone tucking in to a tasty Italian, until a new Subway branch was installed literally next door. What bugs me most is that there has been another Subway so close for years, but you have to walk past a number of other food outlets before you get there, which is why there used to be so fewer people choosing to eat there.

The point Im making that it boils down to laziness. The fact that so few people used to go to Subway illustrates that there is not a huge desire to eat the food patricularly, there has been a branch nearby for ages.

The fact that people go there now is just down to the proximity of the premises... a 30 second walk instead of maybe 2 minutes, and this, I think, is a sad thing.

We are so close to the South Laines and great places nearby like Grints, The Little Sandwich Shop, Marwoods, Hells Kitchen, Laines Deli,.... even Bagalman, but yet so many decide to spend their money at Subway. Or dont decide is perhaps more accurate.

Consumer choices should be about more than cost and convenience. They should be a consideration of where your money is going and who its going to benefit. Many studies have shown that a much higher proportion of money spent in local business stays in the local economy. One would expect somewhere like Grints to source its bread, veg, and meats from local producers, supporting local farmers and grocers, which would also boost local tax revenue.

Its time to think before opting for the cheapest and easiest option