I am a mahoosive supporter of local small
businesses and try where ever possible to shop within my local community. I am
a very lucky girly and have been adopted by Gods green county itself, Yorkshire. Meaning I am spoilt for choice when it comes
to small local businesses both in my local community and all over the UK. However I
do know from literary bestsellers to the latest gadgets, there is no denying
that the internet makes it far easier to compare the price of shopping. But the
tide is turning and buying locally is the message behind Small Business
Saturday.
And
there are plenty of reasons why it is worth going local to support small
business Saturday –
1. Your spending will boost the local economy
Research
on spending by local authorities shows that for every £1 spent with a small or
medium-sized business 63p stayed in the local economy, compared to 40p with a
larger business.
2. It
is the ethical choice
Buying
out-of-season produce, like strawberries in December, lowers your
eco-credentials. As does eating veggies and breads that have been flown halfway
round the world or wrapped in layers of plastic. When you shop at local bakers,
farm shops and green grocers, it is likely that a decent percentage of the
produce has had a short field-to-fork journey. Along with supporting local
businesses, it means the food is likely to contain more nutrients and have less
packaging.
3. They sell quirky, one-off gifts
Independent shops often stock items which are
made locally and aren't available elsewhere: buy a dress by a fledgling
designer and there is little chance of turning up to the office Christmas party
wearing the same as someone else.
4. You
can help build communities
Bookshops, cafes and craft shops often drum up
custom by hosting events, from book groups to knitting clubs and children's
events. If the businesses are not supported, the local groups tend to disappear
too.
5. You might get a better deal or some good
advice
Local
bakers throw in extra bagels for regulars; grocers give informal 10% discounts;
and market stall holders are prepared to negotiate on prices. Independent
retailers can use their discretion to reward regular custom, and it can mean
you get discounts on the items you actually want to buy, rather than being
tempted by multi-buy offers in the big chains.
So
because I am passionate about supporting small businesses and I am an action
speaks louder than words kinda gal, every Saturday I will be bigging up my
local favourite business in aid of small business Saturday! So with no further
ado, let me hand over to Dash Water owned by Alex and Jack to tell you all
about it –
We’re Jack
and Alex and we originally started out working in the mainstream soft drinks
industry. It's where we developed a daily office ritual of bringing in a water
bottle filled with different fruit and vegetables. We'd nerdily compare
flavours, but frustratingly couldn’t find anything we liked half as much
available in the shops. So Dash was born - and we're doing it all with only
three natural, organic, British ingredients: water, fruit and vegetables, and
bubbles. Crafted in East London, our infusion is a finely-tuned
six hour process to achieve perfection, and currently comes in two delicious
flavours: Lemon & Lime and Cucumber & Lemon. Dash is for healthy,
tasty, on-the-go hydration - all day long. Our mission put simply is to get
people drinking more water. We want to make water more exciting for you, using
as few, and as naturally good ingredients as possible. We want to create a
drink of the highest quality, adding a little sparkle along the way and that's why we're made in the UK, artisanally crafted and
mindfully sustainable. Our sparkling spring water is infused with organic and
misshapen fruit and vegetables to add a subtle dash of flavour. Meaning no calories, no sugar, no additives -
nothing but all-natural ingredients.
http://dash-water.com
