Give Big by Shopping Small

Written by: Nastasha Hardy, Salt Lake City Resident and Co-op Supporter

Give Big by Shopping Small this Holiday Season!

Big-box stores and large retail corporations are depending on us as consumers to continue lining their pockets through the New Year, but that doesn’t have to be the case. When we support small businesses, we support each other. 

The term ‘fast fashion’ has become a buzzword floating around the internet, but it’s not just where we get our clothes from that’s damaging the environment and aiding in wealth inequality. Everything from where we source our morning cup of coffee to the laundry detergent we use has an impact. Big-box grocery stores and retailers specialize in ‘fast moving consumer goods’ that aren’t ethically or sustainably sourced. To put it simply, ‘fast moving consumer goods’ is just another way to say that landfills are overflowing, exploiting people for cheap labor is thriving, and carbon emissions are increasing. 

Large corporations are getting richer and richer while creating massive waste in the process. This unnecessary and harmful waste, driven by over-consumption and greed, has lasting and severe impacts. While individuals work long hours on little pay, the people at the top become so exorbitantly wealthy that they could solve some of the crises we're facing with only a small portion of their wealth.  

So, what do we do as consumers? 

We use the power that we have as consumers by spending our money where it matters. We shop small, support each other in these difficult times, and avoid supporting the big guys who already have enough money lining their pockets. When we opt to get local, handmade gifts for the holidays instead of buying gifts online from multi-billion-dollar corporations, we’re keeping our money in our own community and supporting individual families in the process. 

When we buy something from a small business, we’re not just supporting that person and their family. The sales tax revenue from that purchase can go towards things like infrastructure and public services. Shopping small reinvests money into the community, whereas buying from multi-billion-dollar corporations continues the endless cycle of waste and wealth inequality. 

The truth is that these multi-billion-dollar corporations are going to do everything in their power to maintain that power. One of their primary strengths is convenience. It may be convenient to order last minute gifts with same-day delivery, but that convenience has lasting, harmful impacts. By taking the time to spend our money thoughtfully this season, we can help reduce waste, lower carbon emissions, and support businesses that pay liveable wages. 

In a world that’s run by greed, one of the greatest rebellions we have is spending our money wisely. Where we spend it makes a statement, and together we can make a difference. The more people that opt to shop small, the more revenue we’re redirecting back into our community. 

So, give big by Shopping Small this holiday season.