We all hear the mantra of ‘shop local’, and I’m sure most of us try to.
Here in Benalla, the CBD is looking pretty bare.
In recent months we’ve lost several cafés, Mensland and Good Vibes, to name a few.
While some of us can drive to bigger towns to go shopping, many people don’t have that option.
And with poor transport links, people are pushed online, or into one of our larger supermarkets.
Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines recently spoke about the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission conducting an investigation into supermarket pricing practices.
At a time when supermarkets are making record profits, the public is being told the reason for increased shopping bills is inflation.
And the latest allegation against the ‘big-two’ is that they raised prices then offered a ‘discounted price’, higher than the original.
Whether that is true will come out in the ACCC’s findings.
However, regardless of the way large supermarkets conduct business, there is always a reason to shop local.
And I say this as someone who is regularly in Benalla’s supermarkets.
The fact is, there are some things you can only get in a supermarket.
However, if we, as a community, get the odd one or two items in our smaller, locally run businesses, perhaps we can slow the decline of our CBD, or even see it grow.
The beauty of a butcher or green grocer is you can buy exactly what you need, and it will be fresh.
Need school supplies? Have you checked our stationery shop, discount stores or newsagent?
Why a person would buy any baked goods in a supermarket in Benalla is beyond me when we have several wonderful bakeries, all of which are run by, and employ, local people.
The reality is that it is easier to go to a one-stop shop where you can buy everything you need.
Sometimes, however, it may well be worth taking an extra stop on the way home past a smaller business.
It could be the difference in the owner being able to keep the doors open for another week.