In the midst of the Covid19 pandemicthere’s much talk of supporting local businesses – whether they’re online or bricks and mortar. It’s a topic I’ve banged on about a lot over the years, indeed I first put this post together in 2016.
So here are 7 reasons why you should shop locally and 4 places to do it in Swindon.
It’s important to remember that the Small Business Saturday and any shopping local movement is not only about buying products but about buying services locally. Like business blogging by me for instance!
“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 some retailers claim the shift is now towards the high street, and buying locally is the message behind Small Business Saturday.
“Christmas sales can account for between a third and nearly two-thirds of a retailer’s annual turnover. A bad Christmas can mark disaster for a small business. Sadly, it really is a case of ‘use it or lose it’.”
The article mentioned above details 7 good reasons why you should shop locally and support small business. For the full info read the article but in brief:
1. Spending locally boosts 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’s an ethical choice
When you shop at local butchers, 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 farmers, it means the food is likely to contain more nutrients and have less packaging.’
3. You can get quirky and 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. Shopping locally supports British entrepreneurs
Artisan markets, such as Bath Artisan Market, help foster the talents of the next generation of British designers and retailers.
5. Shopping locally builds 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.
6. You might get a better deal or some good advice
Independent retailers can use their discretion to reward regular custom. That might mean you get discounts on the items you actually want to buy, rather than being tempted by multi-buy offers in the big chains.
7. Sometimes you can try before you buy
Major retailers have the advantage of economies of scale. They can afford to slash prices and offer reduced costs. Yet, that makes it easy to waste money on products you end up not even liking all that much.
Where to shop locally in Swindon to support small businesses
Okay listeners. That’s the why. Now for the where.
Swindon benefits from all manner of independent businesses. On the streets of Swindon there are numerous independent coffee shops and restaurants many of which I’ve written about elsewhere on this blog here.
So, I’ll tell you now of some of them I know and those I miss I’ll beg your pardon
1. Pink and Green Organic and Vegan Skincare
 Created and run by Carol Aplin, Pink&Green is a purveyor of gorgeous organic skincare products. They’re a touch of luxury and quality at an acceptable and accessible price.
‘Simon Webb is a small artisan company creating beautiful, desirable but yet functional objects destined to be new family heirlooms.
Based in Wiltshire, the company has access to some truly special materials, making products that can be enjoyed for years and even generations to come.’
The MIT, thanks to volunteer help, open the cottage up on some summer weekends and other special occasions. They also run tours of the GWR Railway Village itself.
The Cottage is a unique example of what life was like living in Swindon’s Railway Village in the early 1900s.
The Mechanics’ Institution Trust is a social enterprise which operates as a Building Preservation Trust and Development Trust.
In its heyday the Institution was more than the building itself; its reach into the community was extensive. The Medical Fund Society, Juvenile Fete, and branch reading rooms were a few examples of this impact.
This mirrors the Trust today. We are defined by more than this one building too with not only interests in wider heritage sites in the town but also in the communities in which they stand.
I have an enamel bread bin much like the one below at home. And OH how I remember mangling in the wash house on Mondays. And ponching and boiling the whites in the copper. Gosh that takes me back.
In 1840 three hundred cottages were
built by the G.W.R for their workers.
These cottages were tiny,with 2 or 3
small bedrooms,a livingroom and a
kitchen.There was no bathroom and the
toilet was outside in the yard. Food
could be cooked on an iron stove
heated with coal,and water had to be
fetched in.These cottages were
modernised in 1980 and provide limited
but stylish accommodation.They are a
lasting memorial to the G.W.R.
We explore what life is like living in the Swindon Railway Village 160 years after it was first built by the GWR
Stood in Emlyn Square enjoying the fabulous Brunel 200 celebrations I overheard a young girl who cannot have been more than four years old turn to her mother and ask: “Mummy, did they build all this just for the festival?”
She was, I can only presume, referring to the model railway village itself; its remarkably symmetrical parallel grids of distinctive Victorian terraces that disappear into the distance, shielding any traces of modernity from those within.’
David Bent, Russell-Cotes and a bender round Bournemouth
David Bent at Russell-Cotes. Well I say bender. It was more a sedate meander with Carole Bent around the wonderful Russell-Cotes museum, David’s exhibition there and beautiful Bournemouth on the best, brilliantly sunny and perfect day.
David is currently exhibiting at the Russell-Cotes museum so Carole kindly took me down there to visit as she had a meeting there. While she was busy doing important meeting stuff I was lucky enough to have a gander around this utter gem of a place. I’d never heard of it let alone been to it – and if you haven’t then you must! Preferably while David’s exhibition is still running because his art is wonderful and worth seeing always – but just generally too.
So now you get the pleasure of some of my characteristically out-of-focus photos – it’s my trademark okay?
And yes – I KNOW this blog is about Swindon not Bournemouth but David has lived here for eons now so he’s as much a Swindonian as I am. And he and Carole are involved in many Swindon things and this is his art and anyway – as I’ve said many times – there’s no point having a bloody blog if you can’t give a shout-out to friends. So here we are. 😉
David Bent exhibits at Russell-Cotes – 17th August to 16th October 2016
Air mobile
David Bent chats to member of Red Arrows
David and Carole Bent with the Reds
The Russell-Cotes Museum and Gallery
Having mentioned the place – it’d be rude not to eh? And it IS a fabulous place. Is it just me or does that building remind you of something from the Adams Family?
I share a birthday with Harold Starr! On Thursday the 8th of September I’ll be 60 years old. And it’s thanks to Harold and his ilk that I’m here to celebrate that milestone. So when I raise a glass to toast my birthday I’ll raise one to toast Harold and his brother too. Starrs in every sense of the word!
Starr Brothers Blue Plaques
‘Two of Swindon’s bravest sons were honoured on Thursday 8th Sept 2016 when the Swindon Heritage Team www.swindonheritage.com unveiled not one but two commemorative Starr Brothers Blue Plaques in the heart of the town.
Brothers Harold Starr and Norman ‘John’ Starr entered this world in the Central Hotel, Regent Street, Swindon. The hotel was replaced with a cinema in the 1930s and today the Art Deco building houses the popular Weatherspoon’s pub, The Savoy.
As soon as www.jdwetherspoon.com were approached about the idea of having blue plaques on The Savoy they immediately said yes and have been assisting with logistics ever since.
The Starr Brothers
Squadron Leader Harold Starr (1914 – 1940)
Squadron Leader Harold Starr was born and raised in Swindon. He bailed out of his burning Hurricane during the Battle of Britain in 1940. But a Messerschmitt gunned him down as he floated down to earth in his parachute. His wife was carrying their unborn child.
Harold Starr lies in Radnor St Cemetery in Swindon in a Commonwealth War Grave. He was 25 years old.
Here’s a young and handsome Harold on his wedding day:
Harold Starr on his wedding day
Wing Commander Norman John Starr DFC and BAR (1917 – 1945)
Like Harold, Norman was born and raised in Swindon. The 27 year old Norman’s fate was being shot down and killed whilst piloting an Avro Anson over Dunkirk in 1945. He was flying back to England to marry his sweetheart the following day.
Norman lies along with his three crew members in Dunkirk Town Cemetery in a Commonwealth War Grave.
Well that was a lot of fun! The grand opening of the Richard Jefferies Railway Halt.
I’ve mentioned often how much I love a miniature railway, or cable car or funicular or land train. So today was simply lovely. It was all a bit ‘Railway Children’ for sure! But we had flags instead of red flannel petticoats.
The Coate Water miniature railway
I’ve written before about the Coate Water Miniature railway. ‘Tis a wonderful thing and has been so since the 1960s I’m sure. But now – with the extension to the line and the addition of the Richard Jefferies Halt it’s even more fabulous fun. So all aboard, full steam ahead, toot that whistle – you get the idea!
Mike Pringle et al, the Swindon 175 team and Arkell’s brewery made today’s opening very special. I’m so glad I was able to attend. And ride the trains. Twice! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Not forgetting of course the volunteers on the miniature railway.
While not quite up to Disneyland Express standards the route round had been brilliantly peppered with stuffed toys of every kind, gorillas, tigers and teddys. Plus a collection of garden gnomes. A cheeky TIC nod to Disney perhaps? Brilliant fun. Well done.
Gorilla in the undergrowth
Here’s a few photos to give you a flavour:
It’s all a super homage to Jefferies and his work with references to ‘Bevis’ and ‘After London’ around the garden:
A bit about Jefferies
“John Richard Jefferies (6 November 1848 – 14 August 1887) was an English nature writer. Jefferies was noted for his depiction of English rural life in essays, books of natural history, and novels. His childhood on a small Wiltshire farm had a great influence on him and provides the background to all his major works of fiction.
Jeffries’ corpus of writings includes a diversity of genres and topics, including Bevis (1882), a classic children’s book, and After London(1885), an early work of science fiction.
For much of his adult life, he suffered from tuberculosis. His struggles with the illness and with poverty also play a role in his writing. Jefferies valued and cultivated an intensity of feeling in his experience of the world around him. A cultivation that he describes in detail in The Story of My Heart (1883).
This work, an introspective depiction of his thoughts and feelings on the world, gained him the reputation of a nature mystic at the time. But it‘s his success in conveying his awareness of nature and people within it, both in his fiction and in essay collections such as The Amateur Poacher (1879) and Round About a Great Estate (1880), that has drawn most admirers.
Walter Besant wrote of his reaction on first reading Jefferies: “Why, we must have been blind all our lives; here were the most wonderful things possible going on under our very noses, but we saw them not.”
