Our bricks-and-mortar (B&M) retail stores are in strife.
Prices high. Service poor. Wages stagnant. Jobs gone.
But there may be an answer …
Ethical shopping!
Radio days
Years ago if you wanted, say, a radio cassette recorder, you could make a day of it.
Travel to a certain road with a string of electrical stores.
Visit the first. Chat. Get a price (in writing if possible).
Go next door for another (lower) price.
Maybe try a third store.
Then shuttle between them to haggle your best deal.
It wasn’t pretty, but one of the stores that served you was rewarded with your custom.
Today
These days, you can spend hours in a B&M store learning all you want about an object of desire, then go home, crank up a price comparison site and order online.
The B&M store that helped you gets nothing.
‘And why should they?!’ You cry. ‘They’re twice as dear as overseas outlets!’
But think on this: if our stores never get rewarded for helping us, they’re not going to do it much longer.
Then we’ll have no reason to visit them.
And eventually they’ll shut up … shop.
Solution
So I’ve got this idea for buying replaceable goods (like runners) ‘ethically’.
See what your reckon.
I need runners.
I could visit The Athlete’s Foot, get measured, grab their Fitprint analysis, pick their resident expert’s brain, scribble down their recommendation and then bugger off to order from a cheaper online competitor.
Or, I could reward The Athlete’s Foot’s time and capital investment by buying one pair of runners at their price.
Then, if the runners are as good as they say, I can buy another two or three pairs cheaply online before the manufacturer changes the style.
I’ll still save money.
I’ll also avoid the rigmarole of buying runners again for years.
Both the B&M and online stores will get paid for doing what they do best.
Win. Win. Win.
What do you think?
Vote with our feet
We’re quick to condemn local stores.
Some, of course, are truly crap.
But maybe, as with our closed ecosystem, we’re all part of the solution.
If we don’t save our domestic sector, we’ll be fully reliant on other countries.
Once they twig that we’ve no local option, they may be far less accommodating.
And if our dollar plunges to past levels, it’s all over Red Rover.
High street?
Is this idea pie in the sky?
Or a step in the right direction?
In making several kindred purchases, would you forego some discount on the first to keep local retail alive?
Would anyone else?
Or should we just let our B&M stores get with the program or die in the dirt?
I really want your thoughts on this.
Please put your best foot forward!
Paul Hassing | Founder & Senior Writer – The Feisty Empire
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Author
Tash Hughes
March 27, 2012 at 11:17 am
I like your compromise Paul – buy one locally and duplicates for less online.
It is hard – I agree with supporting local businesses but I don’t have the money or time to always do so. And places with shoddy service really don’t make it worth my while to travel to shops when I can get it for less online.
Of course, buying form B&M is sometimes the cheaper option, once you allow for postage anyway.
I don’t want out B&M shops to go – some products I want to touch and try before I buy for one thing and the human interaction is important too (I remember as a new Mum going shopping at least once a week because it was affordable variety from being home alone all day!)
Maybe we ned some out of the box idea to help retailers be more competitive with online shops…
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 27, 2012 at 11:26 am
Thank you for kicking off our debate, Tash. I agree this isn’t easy. But I’m worried about the future of retail.
I HATE in-person shopping, but the last time I bought runners from a liquidation store, I got a pair designed for flat feet – which I don’t have. Two years of agony because I didn’t consult a professional. Never again!
May your kind comment will trigger a stream of responses from shoppers (and shop owners) alike. Best regards, P.
Best regards, P.
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 27, 2012 at 11:45 am
An excellent piece that examines why our dollar will collapse:
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/irish-nightmare-prepare-20120326-1vumc.html
Author
Debra Templar
March 27, 2012 at 11:50 am
Hi Paul,
Raising my head. Imagine if you will – shopping strips full of empty shops, shopping centres semi-full of the same shops, little innovation, nothing out of the norm, bike lanes instead of car parking spaces, increased unemployment, no more ‘after school’ jobs for the school kids, forget about 10-2 for working mums, no more sponsorship of the local footy club or the local raffle for the kids gymnastic team, heading off to a major event on the weekend but the local cafes are shut (why? because it costs them money to open – they run at a loss).
Seems far fetched? That’s the near future unless we wake up to ourselves. We consumers can’t have it all – it’s not possible for Australian retailers to offer the cheapest prices, free shipping, the widest range AND pay penalty rates on the weekend on the chance that customers will drop on by. Something has to give. And, currently, its retailers.
Don’t get me wrong. Yes there are crap retailers – the same as there are crap accountants, nurses, doctors, mechanics – but are you expecting the same thing from them as you are your retail stores? You want your mechanic open all weekend? You expect to be able to reach your accountant on a Sunday afternoon because you have a query?
Its a time of change. Lots of retailers are changing fast to meet the needs of their customers but be fair. Some things are out of their control.
I like the thought of picking 3 local retailers you wouldn’t want to lose and go spend money with them EVERY week. Help them survive instead of looking for the greener grass. Or, if you do decide to go hunting the greener grass accept that you’re part of the reason your favourite local shop may indeed close its doors.
Author
Jill Davis
March 27, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Spot on!
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 27, 2012 at 12:07 pm
I’m delighted to have your thoughts on this Debra. A look at your website will show our readers that retail really is your bag.
Thanks so much for taking the time to table your expert views and excellent ideas. I really appreciate it.
Author
Tamara
March 27, 2012 at 12:12 pm
As a big fan of online shopping, I buy as much as I can online. It saves me the time of driving to the B&M store, finding a car park, waiting to be served, all usually in the middle of a busy working day. Online shopping allows me to do everything I need outside of business hours, which is convenient.
However, I am the first to admit that there are just some things that you cannot purchase online, and I do as you mention above and ‘reward’ that store with my purchase. But in the long run, stores can’t expect shoppers to keep going back if their prices are two or three times higher than online stores.
Having been part of a company who has built many successful ecommerce stores, we see a trend that the most successful retailers are those that are multi-channel (both B&M as well as online). They offer the face-to-face service that some customers want or some products need, while also offering the ability for people like me to login and browse their entire catalogue online in my own time.
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 27, 2012 at 2:48 pm
By jingo, Tamara – that sounds like an excellent middle path!
Might some of your multi-channel clients be amenable to being cited? I (and perhaps others) would like to see what a successful hybrid store actually looks like.
With best regards and MANY thanks for broadening our horizon. P.
Author
Tamara
March 28, 2012 at 10:07 am
I’m sure Snowys won’t mind me sharing their website with you: http://www.snowys.com.au
I think what works well here is that the website has been thought out thoroughly and is backed by a great in-store team with a solid promise on their service offering.
They also team their website with a solid social media strategy, and a blog that is regularly updated with articles that aren’t aimed at selling products – but articles that are designed to help people. For example Gas Bottle Safety Checklists and Sleep Options for Restless Campers.
If you happen to be into camping (I’m not personally!), it’s actually a good read and shows how ecommerce stores can take their offering to the next level: http://blog.snowys.com.au/
Consumers don’t like being sold to these days, and that’s why I think that creative measures like these set Snowys apart from other stores. And it’s working for them.
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 28, 2012 at 3:43 pm
Ah good on you, Tamara! That site certainly is impressive. Hats off to you for helping build it. I’m not a camper either, but their torch selection was temptingly comprehensive …
I’ll keep an eye on this crowd via Twitter.
Many thanks for citing such a beaut site and tabling your views. And please let the Snowys crew know I’d love to hear from them if they feel moved to make a comment here. Best regards and thanks again!
Author
Linda ~ Journey Jottings
March 27, 2012 at 12:53 pm
I like you have suffered will ill-fitting runners, so having established a relationship with what was then my local ‘Athletes Foot’ who offered me a 10% discount as a returning customer, I now telephone them to get repeat pairs as my discount more than covers the postage.
I read an article about the plight of retailers having people trying and then not buying -
One ski boot place was considering charging a $50 fee to fit you, which if you bought was of course taken off the price, but meant at least they got something towards their service of having pairs for you to physically put on to get the correct size -
I wonder whether there will eventually be a ‘warehouse’ for the ‘stuff’ one needs where you try on, that has computer terminals at the exit where you compare on line prices and buy, but the sellers are in fact affiliate linked so the warehouse get their % ?
Times for a sure are a changin’
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 27, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Hi, Linda. That 10% is a great idea!
I know how those ski boot people feel. Several times I’ve sunk ten hours of my life into a pitch, only to have the prospect choose a cheaper option (or ‘do’ it themselves).
Some ad agencies demand payment for pitching – but I don’t know if that’s the best way to endear yourself to a new client.
Some very enlightened clients pay agencies to table their ideas. But they’re pretty thin on the ground.
It’s hard to see where all this is heading. Your scenario may well be the one that turns out. Many thanks for joining us.
Author
Jill Davis
March 27, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Actually i think it goes a step further than this, but agree wholeheartedly with Debra Templar.
As a manufacturing jeweller, i can’t make my handmade product as cheaply as some of the finished product being shipped into the country… it has been this way for years. The places that produce these cheap imports do so by exploiting poorer people in third world countries, many of them earning less that AUD$1.00 a day, and living well below the standard of living we afford the livestock that we eat.
I think if you really want to talk ethical, it has to start at the beginning… people need to stop supporting these cheaply made foreign goods that are often the result of sweat shop type practices in 3rd world countries. As long as we create a demand for these cheaper goods, we directly condone the exploitation of people, and as long as there is a demand for them, there will always be some fatcat owner willing to exploit these people to supply our need.
. We do need to reduce our spending on foreign and support our own local and put our money back into our own economies and not foreign ones, otherwise we will forever be owned by foreign.
There really is only one way out of this, no matter how much everyone complains about costs… sustainability. Support your local producers first, even if it means you must buy less of something… we all have way to much anyway
There are so many local highly skilled people here who are losings their livelihoods due to our own people not supporting them. I do understand everyone moaning that local is more expensive than imports… so is the local cost of living (food; medical assistance; schooling; rental;etc), and these local producers are paying these local costs of living just like everyone else here in Australia… surely they deserve (just like everyone else) to earn an Australian living wage? With this Australian living wage they will also pay Australian taxes that go to benefit us all… without a salary no taxes from them, and they will have no choice but to take Centrelink benefits, which will have to come from the taxes of those still earning. It stands to reason to help keep everyone employed!
Then there is also the very scary issue of goods that are purchased online not having to pass our national standards of acceptability, which laws are there to protect our citizens. Without these kind of standards we too could soon be feeding our babies milk contaminated with melamine, or driving cheap cars that have been deemed too unsafe for our citizens that they are now being sent to other countries where they don’t care as much about safety.
I agree that there are some retailers who are ripping it, and we do need to weed them out or change their ways. But even better, support the local veggie producer; the local clothing shop etc. Stop the big cartel organisations who bring foreign imports to our shores and wipe out our own local producers… i say boycott these places. Go to your local fresh produce market… they are around if you look, and they supply the best goods. If we don’t wake up on this matter really soon our children will have no future, and all Australians of the future will be is the local Check-out chicks for foreign fatcats.
We need to turn back the clock a bit or we alone will be the losers.
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 27, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Dear Jill, this is the kind of comment I wish for before going to sleep at night. Thoughtful. Passionate. Cogent. Born of experience. You had me nodding emphatically all the way through. Thank you SO much for such an incredible response!
Author
Jill Davis
March 28, 2012 at 10:35 am
You are most welcome Paul
As mentioned before… producers like myself have been dealing with this kind of thing for years, firstly with retailers rather prefering to bring in the imported goods to sell in their shops instead of supporting their local producers, and now also from foreign online sellers. Now even jobs like IT; Admin and Call centres are being off-shored… You only wonder at what stage someone will put a stop to it? With this kind of thing being allowed to go on, what will become of Australians? Where do we see ourselves fitting in future of the world?
I am foreign by birth, but have chosen to be Australian. We brought our skills here with the hope of helping to grow and build Australia. I was born in a third world country and know exploitation of people first hand. The only way to stop this is to not support the people who make money exploiting others.
In terms of cheaper imports… I might also add (and i forgot to mention this in my first rant
) … the prices of imported goods are also kept low by skimming on production costs and methods. As mentioned in my first rant… in third world countries there are no standards that need to be passed. One only has to take a look at a few very good documentaries at the moment (one being The Chinese are coming) to see this.
I am appalled by the quality of the imported jewellery being sold to customers in our shops, and you can be sure it is happening in other areas as well… you only need to take a close look at imported clothing and also the actual nutritional value in some of the imported foods to realize that if you purchased such items your money would not be well spent.
Most of the jewellery i see coming into the country is of very poor quality. Often made of inferior materials (porous metals; fake stones glued into settings etc), or paper thin and hollow jewellery that is not likely to last very long. I have also seen many pieces that were actually 100% brass as oposed to the 18ct gold that their hallmark denoted. In these countries anyone can own a hallmarking stamp
… Basically you are getting what you pay for. Just remember if it looks too good to be true, it more than likely is.
In an interesting turn of events for my business however…
Where i once only handmade gold and silver fine jewellery to sell; and restored clients’ heirlooms, now i find i also have quite a business melting down clients’ cheap imports that have fallen to pieces (as can be expected) and remodelling the metal (finally) into a decent piece of jewellery.
But the sad truth is that the customers are in effect paying more for their jewellery in the longrun than if they just bought directly from the Australian producer in the first place.
So in many instances customers who purchase cheap imports are indeed not only buying inferior products, but also spending a lot more in the longrun, so one has to ask the question…
“Is it really cheaper to buy foreign?”.
I think that people really need to open their minds now. Instead of thinking of the here and now, start thinking of the longterm effects that our practices will have. People need to stop being cart horses… take the blinkers off.
It will cost a little more upfront, but in the longrun (like my jewellery scenario) you will be better off!
You only have to look back into history to see how well short-sighted behaviour worked for people (British Steelworks in the 1930′s; American car industry in Detroit … i am sure there are many more lessons we could have learned from history).
So… to sum up…
*Supporting local makes your society a sustainable one that will stand the test of time;
*Supporting local keeps people in your neighbourhood employed, who in turn contribute to the upkeep of your lifestyle;
*Supporting local keeps skill alive in Ausralia, and allows for training of our next generations so they have more to look forward to in life than just being the Check-out chicks for the world;
*Supporting local keeps funds in your pocket, and in your country;
*Supporting local means you are not responsible for the exploitation of poorer nations;
*Supporting local means we are keeping our standards of living up;
*Supporting local means we are buying quality.
I am sure i could think of a thousand more pro’s to supporting local!
Anyhow… i now need to go and remodel some more rubbish imported jewellery into a fabulous 100% Australian handmade beauty
Have a wonderful day, and signing off…
Jill Davis
Davis Design Studio
http://www.davisdesigns.com.au
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 28, 2012 at 10:43 am
Gadzooks, Jill! You are the gift that keeps on giving!
If you were a church, I’d attend.
I was enthusiastically saving money on Home Brand veggies, until I saw their point of origin. Now I hear our farmers are getting crushed by these so-called supermarket ‘price wars’. Not to mention our poor milk producers.
Your metal meltdown service is fascinating. Such a discovery is one of the true joys of moderating these debates.
I have high hopes for farmers’ markets. They seem to be taking off. Long may they prosper, for I believe if we save our primary producers, they’ll save us right back!
Thank you for another beautifully wrought treatise, Jill. PLEASE COME BACK SOON!
Author
Carol Jones
March 27, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Greetings Jill from rural Australia,
I can’t agree with you more. If we want to maintain our high standard of living, we have to be prepared to pay for it. By buying high quality, locally manufactured products. We need to keep our citizens in jobs. Not lock them out by this unrelenting penchant to always want to buy the cheapest.
I’m by no means wealthy.
But perhaps because I’m an immigrant who escaped America, I feel a heightened desire to support the country I’m in love with.
I will always pay more for Australian made products that are of superb quality.
And I will always pay more to support a bricks and mortar local business.
I happily pay extra to shop at my local IGA. Because the nearest Woolworths doesn’t care whether I enter their store.
Or not.
And they certainly WILL NOT get something in specially for me.
But my local IGA will try anything once. And if it sells, it stays on their shelf. They have a far superior selection of major brands than Woolworths with their row upon row of ‘self branded’ products.
I do without other things to pay for my loyalty to buy Made In Australia. And to buy local.
And I rarely buy online. Even though I have an online business. Distrust. Knowing too much about fraudsters online. Just wanting to have a face to face experience. These are my reasons.
The first people to whinge and whine about local stores closing are the very people who travel kilometres to buy CHEAPER.
Jill, you are so right. It’s time consumers woke up to the fact they can’t justify their wanting high wages, loading, double time on Sunday, etc. if they’re not prepared to support the businesses who are forced pay them.
Everyone’s safe. I’m off this soapbox now.
Superb topic, Paul.
Best wishes and take care,
Carol
Carol Jones
Director
Interface Pty Ltd
Designers of The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover
Ironing Diva’s stories are at http://bit.ly/TheIroningDiva
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 27, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Carol, if I had a nail gun, I’d keep you on that soapbox for life! It’s always a great pleasure to read your thoughts. Thank you. P.
Author
Jill Davis
March 28, 2012 at 10:38 am
We are part of the same team Carol
It takes one small stone to make a ripple in the water.
Have a really great day!
Jill
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 28, 2012 at 10:44 am
With Carol in your corner, you’re likely to end up with a tsunami (of the most productive kind).
Author
Malcolm Owens
March 27, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Dont buy sports shoes in bulk they dont last, the mid soles perish with time when not used and fall apart.
Other than that I like your idea of rewarding effort.
Good post as always!
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 27, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Hi, M. What would YOU know about sports shoes?!
Thank you so much for torepdoing my grand plan (and quite possibly saving me several hundred bucks).
That’s it! I’m on the cusp of shopping local. If a Melbourne shoe store can just step up to the plate and tell me everything’s going to be fine, I’ll be theirs for life.
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 27, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Torpedoing. Can’t type to save my life today. Need. A. Break.
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 29, 2012 at 7:56 am
‘After the rain comes sun. After the sun comes rain again.’
http://www.theage.com.au/business/aussie-dollar-slumps-amid-euro-revival-signs-20120328-1vypj.html
[Smoke City: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUz3fLncTTs ]
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 29, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Further reading:
http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/how-to-create-an-eempire-20120329-1w01i.html
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
March 30, 2012 at 6:20 am
More on the phoney war:
http://www.theage.com.au/business/dairy-producer-fonterra-sour-over-supermarket-wars-20120329-1w14p.html
I’d be interested in the response to this poll:
Of those who buy cheaper ‘durable’ goods overseas (e.g. runners, jewellery), what percentage would also be willing to buy perishables (e.g. milk, vegetables) from the same country?
Author
Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
July 2, 2012 at 7:03 am
How the world is changing!
http://www.theage.com.au/business/retailers-struggle-as-city-shops-close-20120701-21b2l.html