Keeping It Local

Last couple of weeks haven’t been good on the local job front with staff lay-off by 2 major employers. Blame is apportioned to outside factors; we can just accept this or decide what we as a community going to do to help those people affected find local jobs. If we don’t our community not only suffers now but longer term as the money circulating within decreases leading to more lay-offs and lower property values. One way to help is keep it local. On line shopping, FIFO, engaging out of town builders can benefit some communities but to the detriment of others. Central Queensland communities I argue are at the detriment end of the scale. Government largely ignores the detriment on individual communities (unless a marginal seat) as it tries to improve the lot of the majority (or where the majority lives). We have to help ourselves. With apologies to J.F. Kennedy’s speech writer, it’s not what government will do for our community it’s a matter of what we will do for our community. Keeping it local is one way. Supporting businesses that employ locals is vital to the strength of the community. Easy to say, but when that email pings at the bottom of your screen promising an online bargain it may not that easy to practice. On line shopping is here to stay, as likely will FIFO and out of town builders doing short term ‘deals’ before moving on. We need to be conscious of our decisions and their impact on our community. If you like on line shopping tell local businesses if they want more business from you to have a web based sales service and use social media to inform people about the business, its offers, how they do it better, etc. Local business might argue it’s too hard to manage and they can’t compete against some of the pricing – well get help if you want to stay in business. Convenience is recognised as the major motivating factor for shopping on line, not price (AVG Technologies Survey – March 2013). Local business has the edge on convenience; customers can come in pick up their order or have it delivered within 24 hours, not days or weeks. By keeping it local we strengthen our community, which benefits us with employment opportunities and increasing property values.