Every morning before work, I buy a coffee from a local business.
It’s a small transaction – a few dollars to fill my reusable cup – and at 7.30am it’s a necessary one, but it’s also money that goes to a local business.
Once I hand payment over, the business owners use it for all sorts of things: it goes towards their local employee’s wages, buys supplies from other local businesses, and pays for local advertising.
While I’m not for a moment suggesting my morning coffee keeps the local economy afloat, it’s a simple example of how important it is to spend locally.
We’ve always loved our local businesses but now it’s more important than ever to put our money where our mouths are.
Put simply, buying from Porirua people keeps money, jobs and industries here, and that’s exactly what’s needed as we all negotiate the post-lockdown world.
It’s hard to think of any aspect of life that remains unchanged in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and businesses are doing it especially hard as they fight to keep their staff employed, their own families supported and their communities supplied.
By choosing to buy from local businesses we’re supporting the people who, in turn, support us.
Our upcoming Love Local Expo will showcase what our local businesses have to offer and give you an opportunity to get behind them. Come along, there’s no entry charge and I’m sure you’ll discover something new.
As the Council continues to back local businesses, I was excited to attend the opening of a brand new shop in our city centre last week.
The Golden Scissors hair salon is owned and operated by a family who came from Syria four years ago. Porirua loves local business owners and local people, I’m delighted this family have chosen to be both.
15 Jul 2020
