support small business and independent designers

I’ve always loved going to small one-of shops and boutiques. The experience is so much better than the mall or the big box store. I love getting to know shop owners and having them recognize me when I walk in.

I recently relocated from the great, little town of West Chester, PA (where small boutiques and galleries were everywhere) to another small town that is surrounded by lots of small towns. I would love to see more boutiques in my new location. Actually, I’d like to be a small business owner in my new location. :-)

I do this without thinking now which is a great achievement. I don’t go to supermarkets and feel really happy about my decision in where my moeny goes.

I went to the indepedant decorating shop instead of B&Q.

I’ve always ahted going in B&Q. You can never find any staff when you want them, and then they have no idea what they are on about. And their silly little mobile phones. Bah!

Anyway, the little shop was nice and does Dulux and Crown, so I got a couple of paint charts and will be going back to buy some paint as soon as a decision has been made.

I’ve stopped buying an organic box of vegetables, and now go to the asian greengrocers near where we live. I get a nice chat, lots of different vegetables to try out and am supporting a local business instead of a franchise.

This like this make me sad, but more determined to support independent designers.

http://www.johnnycupcakes.com/

I wonder if buying ethically is a cop out on this one?

I’ve just bought some fair trade belgian chocolates from Oxfam. I think maybe it was a cop out, but at least another 2 presents have been bought and are ethical at least.

So far I’ve bought all my Christmas presents from small businesses and independent designers.

My Mum’s present and my Mother-in-laws present are both from local artists. My Dad’s birthday present is fromm a small store on ebay. And I made my best friends present myself.

I’ve just placed an order with a local organic food supplier for some veggies, fruit and tofu.

Hooray!

There’s a little Chinese supermarket opened up on the route I walk into town.

I went in today and bought some Pocky and a little Hello Kitty book.

I’m going to buy a food I haven’t tried before when I go in next. :o)