A Christmas Wish from Your Local Retailers

21 November 2024
Tales & Trails

This Christmas, before defaulting to Makro.co.za or Takealot.com please think about the REAL cost of your imported purchase …

2024 has been another tough year for Zim retailers due to a number of factors that we minions have no control off. However, there is one factor that all Christmas-time shoppers have control over and that is choosing to support your local retailers.

Before defaulting to an online shop in SA or overseas and speed-dialling your next-door runner (a euphemism for smuggler) please consider …

When you need prizes for your fundraising raffle, who do you approach? Who supports your golf days, charity bazaars and other community events?

Imagine you buy a refrigerator from a South African retailer and the fridge now needs a service and spare parts. You go to your local appliances store, only to find the doors are closed. The store could not survive providing low value services only. And now what about the spare parts for that fridge? Your runner isn’t going to help you …

Adding to record high levels of unemployment, thousands of jobs are being lost as local retailers are downsizing and even closing – victims of an uneven playing field and cross-border smuggling.

So, this year before going online to do your Christmas shopping in SA and overseas please check prices locally – you will very often be pleasantly surprised. Before making that purchase, consider who will support the warranty when something goes wrong? Or be around to support your fund raiser in 2025?

On the positive side, supporting local retailers is a great way to help your community thrive. When you choose to “Buy Local”, a large portion of your money remains in the local economy. Local businesses are heavily invested in the community and are more likely to give back to it. There are many local retailers that regularly support community through clean-ups, sponsorships, etc., and they deserve our support.

I hope this provides some food for thought, and that our local communities benefit from your spending this Christmas.

Safe journeys,
Sean Q.
21.11.24

First published in Facebook/Zimvine on 10.11.23. To locate the post and read the interesting and varied responses, use the search term “smuggler”!