It’s easier than ever now to buy products and materials from overseas. Often offering cheaper prices and lower overheads, buying from abroad is certainly a tempting option for many homeowners. But for anyone invested in the livelihood of their community, locally made products are the only ones worth considering.
Besides, Australian made building materials are some of the most revered for both their durability and reliability. This means that buying locally made products just about guarantees that any renovation you add to your property will look fantastic for decades to come.
Buying local helps small businesses flourish, helps local communities to grow economically, and helps foster better business practices and relationships. There really is no other option as secure and steady as buying local.
The Community Benefits
The strength of your local community has a serious impact on your quality of life. When you buy local, you’re putting food on the table for your business-owning neighbours. This means increased tax revenue that pays for strong, efficient local public services. Schools with more funding, better public transport and well-supported medical services are hugely beneficial for you and your family.
This, in turn, improves job growth. This helps the next generation of kids to find good paying local jobs to support their families. Giving businesses a reason to hire and grow locally means that these businesses will stay put in the area, and will continue to grow for years to come.
Furthermore, local businesses are usually firmly embedded in the community. They show that by supporting local sports teams, charity funds and schools. These social links are a vital part of the infrastructure of a local community. They are what help give communities their individuality and flavour.
Reduce Your Environmental Impact
Australia’s natural environment is one of the most beautiful and productive in the world. It’s worth keeping it that way.
Buying from overseas adds immensely to the energy needed to get these products to you. From travelling costs, to storage and packaging, the act of transporting goods from far away puts an unnecessary strain on the environment. This puts your carbon footprint through the roof.
Many foreign companies are able to charge slightly cheaper rates than local firms because they may not have to comply with the same environmental and regulatory standards that Australian firms need to. Though it’s true that this results in cheaper costs for the consumer, the quality of product is often lacking. Plus, it strains the environment beyond what’s reasonable.
Cut Out The Middlemen
Moving products from country to country is a fairly complicated task. It requires a lot of logistical and technological expertise. While overseas firms are committed to getting a product to you, it’s unlikely you’ll ever have a relationship with them. Similarly, you’ll have little recourse if prices suddenly jump from one day to the next.
Along every step of the way, a mark-up is introduced to cover the costs of storage, labour, transport and other factors. Let’s face it, this revenue would be much better served in the hands of your friends, neighbours and local community.
Better Business Relationships
Local businesses hire from around the local area. This means that when you’re talking to them, you’re talking to people with local knowledge. Beyond a good yarn, this means that you’re getting specialist information relevant to your locale. It could be a recommendation for the most cost-effective hardwood timber for that time of year, or for a contractor that specialises in a particular material.
Not only that, local businesses stake their reputation on every single business venture they enter into. They’re not supported by huge multinationals. They need to put 100% of their effort into everything they produce.
Local ownership can work in your favour. Local businesses benefit hugely from word of mouth, and have a lot more freedom to reward repeat customers and offer discretionary, informal discounts. Oftentimes, you can simply recoup the extra savings from purchasing foreign goods by having a good chat to your local supplier. Developing better business relationships means that firms and clients alike can work together to get the best outcomes for each other.
