I was reading about some local policy changes intended to make running a small business easier and that got me thinking. I go to restaurants and ethnic food stores which are usually small businesses, and maybe some of the gas stations I use are small businesses too. However, everything else I buy comes from big-box stores or the internet. These have replaced a lot of small businesses, but how is it that there are any little shops left at all? Sometimes I walk into a corner store because I don’t want to go all the way to the big box store or wait for delivery but the prices are so much higher (often by over a hundred percent) that I walk right out again unless I need something very urgently.
I’m not making a moral judgement here. I just don’t know how the economics work out.
Mostly, I don’t shop. So, when I do, I can choose according to ideals. Most of my searches are at thrift first, and the second hand. I never consider credit. And, I always shop for discounts.
Beyond that I look for a local with a healthy business and prices that don’t seem absurd.
There are a few local businesses that make no sense. I don’t understand how they can keep their doors open with the prices they charge. I avoid those, and stick with locals who work hard.