Indy

[Zom]

Are there any people here who are independent consumers? By that, I mean those who go out of their way to avoid shopping at corporate chains (like Walmart or Starbucks)? A friend of mine recently convinced me to become an independent consumer as much as possible, and I've found the beautiful thing which is online sales.

I'm also curious to know if there are any self-employed folks who are working to provide products or services for their local communities.

 

[Boondock_Saint]

I avoid the trendy chains when I can. There is no reason for it.

 

[anewday]

I'm trying to become self-employed. Its tough though.

 

[Zom]

I'm working to become self-employed, which means I'm cutting costs as much as possible. In that, however, I'm also trying to support the local economy (which will in turn support the national economy). Ordering online is cheaper, and frequenting local businesses rather than big chains helps give back to my community; they will then order from larger chains for many of their products and services to keep their business running.

 

[wannaberocker]

Depends on what im buying. Some things are better with big corporations and some things are better with smaller local stores. Just depends, i got nothing against big corporations or small businesses. Both serve the communities in different ways.

 

[Nom De Guerre]

I actually was looking at clothes online (ebay) from just regular people and they not only were selling things I like for considerably cheaper than I'd pay here, but there were items that I wouldn't get here either. I'm totally for it downside would be getting the stuff I want like 20 days later in a few instances.

 

[anewday]

I thought this was about the Indy 500 at first .

 

[Miss Spaulding]

I thought this was about the Indy 500 at first .

I thought it was about Indiana Jones...


I have a handful of small businesses that I frequent. One is a family owned, hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant that I'm a regular at. They know me and I know precisely where I'll be sitting too. The family is so sweet and the food is phenomenal, I'm more than happy to give them business. Same for any other small, worthy businesses that can supply my needs.

 

[ReeceWirefly]

I shop at second hand stores, if that counts? Haha, just kidding. We love to get fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers. I guess that counts as shopping Indy.

I also like Indy movies, and music most of the time. Although... Haha. In real life though? We don't really shop at small business unless we are looking for books. Walmart is usually pretty full here a lot.

 

[Blank123]

I like shopping at secondhand stores. Cheaper clothes, usually you can find some really beautiful things if you know where to go and dig long enough.

but I also shop retail. as long as its a good deal.

oh and I totally thought that this was about Indy 500 too.

 

[Zom]

It's going to take me a long time to get away from some corporate chains, if I ever fully do. There are certain products (such as those for my disability) that I trust far too much to give up, and they're only offered through the big chains.

As for the rest of the things I need on a regular basis, I really think you can either sink yourself in shipping costs or save yourself a bundle by ordering online from independent sources. Rather than throw money at corporate chains that will only line a CEO's pockets with cash, you can support a local family and put food on their table.

I honestly wish that we could all be self-employed. I think society would be better off.

 

[SweetDee]

Are there any people here who are independent consumers? By that, I mean those who go out of their way to avoid shopping at corporate chains (like Walmart or Starbucks)? A friend of mine recently convinced me to become an independent consumer as much as possible, and I've found the beautiful thing which is online sales.

I'm also curious to know if there are any self-employed folks who are working to provide products or services for their local communities.

When I can I try to shop small businesses. I wish my budget allowed me to do it more often.

I recently started working downtown at a store that is like a business incubator. It is a non profit store that helps people who want to start their own business. We rent them a spot in our store so they can see how well their products will sell. It is a really amazing thing, actually. Today was small business saturday, and we were extermely busy. A lot of people came downtown and supported the small indepenently owned shops.

 

[Jupiter Drops]

Are there any people here who are independent consumers? By that, I mean those who go out of their way to avoid shopping at corporate chains (like Walmart or Starbucks)? A friend of mine recently convinced me to become an independent consumer as much as possible, and I've found the beautiful thing which is online sales.

I'm also curious to know if there are any self-employed folks who are working to provide products or services for their local communities.

Our family runs an indy store.

It's hard to be independent, especially today where big corps like Walmart, Starbucks, JC Penney, Forever 21, and alike all run the blocks.

I'm not completely an independent consumer, but I try to be. It's very difficult to become 100% independent consumer/owner, but it's not impossible.

Supporting independent stores is the best way to boost the economy and feed families, in my opinion.

 

[Rhye]

My family spends about 90% of our food shopping from small independent stores. Mostly because these stores sell things regular supermarkets don't have from our culture and mostly because it's much more fresh and surprisingly cheap.

 

[Jupiter Drops]

^ Wish we could find more places like that around here.

 

[SweetDee]

Supporting independent stores is the best way to boost the economy and feed families, in my opinion.

It definetly would.

 

[Rhye]

It's grown much more now because our community has grown so much in the last decade. My mom bought food from Indy stores when we first came to the US and those stores were around for years. Now it's grow so much more and you save so much more money on food!

 

[Neve]

It definetly would.

It's mindblowing that most families have $700 extra lying around to spend on holiday gifts in this economy (unless they are just putting it on credit cards, but that hardly seems to be the solution).

But it is a struggle to find independent small businesses to support when there is a Target or a Walmart two or three miles away. I'm still not that familiar with the city I live in so I go to the Big Box retail stores since that is easiest for me.

However, it is great to support small business owners - my father owned a small business, but it was in the boat industry, not something that you can really "gift"!

 

[Nom De Guerre]

I don't know that it's mind blowing...I have an extra 700 to spend on gifts and I'm on Employment Insurance right now while I'm at school.

 

[Neve]

I don't know that it's mind blowing...I have an extra 700 to spend on gifts and I'm on Employment Insurance right now while I'm at school.

I'm probably just cheap...