Hello everyone, we hope that you are staying safe during these tough times. We have all spent a lot of time at home binge watching Netflix or buying brand new clothes for the winter. By ordering and purchasing these products, you are a consumer in this economy. But what is a consumer and how do you be a responsible one? In this blog, we will delve deeper into these topics.
What is a consumer?
Put simply, a consumer is someone who orders or purchases a good or service for a non-business use. In the example above, buying a Netflix subscription is for personal use and not for a business one. The same thing applies to buying new clothes.
How to be a RESPONSIBLE consumer?
Being a consumer comes with its responsibilities. Here are some tips you can follow to be a better consumer in the economy. For example, you should make your decision on which product to buy after doing extensive research on the company which you might buy the product from. In order to prevent overspending, you should keep receipts and other records to create a budget. If you have a credit or debit card, check the bill to ensure that you are paying for only the things that you bought; this prevents fraud. Last but not least, you should always try to make sustainable purchases; don’t buy disposable goods but rather products which can be reused or last for a long time. However, being a consumer gives you the power to support small and locally-owned businesses. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have adversely impacted these kinds of businesses, as consumers flock to large chains. Instead of heading over to McDonald’s or Chipotle, head over to a small business for a more authentic and environmentally friendly culinary experience.
How to support locally-owned businesses during COVID?
There are many ways to support locally owned businesses during these trying times. If you do not want to eat or buy anything, you can share the business on your social media platform, which allows them to better market themselves online and gain visibility. However, if you do want to buy something, you could shop at these small businesses whenever you can. Instead of going to a chain restaurant, head over to the family-owned business to pick up some great food. You don’t even need to leave your house to support these businesses, you can simply order food off DoorDash or UberEats and have it delivered. Go on sites like Shopify or Etsy in order to support locally-owned businesses as well. If you can, it is best to go to these businesses to buy or pick-up goods, so they get their whole share of money instead of having to give a cut to these online marketplaces. On your way out, make sure to tip them!! You could also buy gift cards for friends and family for the holiday season. Ultimately, practicing these habits will not only help you become a more responsible and informed consumer, but will also allow you to give back to the local businesses that fuel our economy.
Hopefully you have learned more on how to be a more responsible consumer and what you as the consumer can do to support small, local businesses. Being a responsible consumer is key for the rest of your life. Making your purchases at these small businesses will benefit the economy and help business owners get through these tough times. So the next time you are craving for some food or want to purchase a new sweatshirt, make that purchase at a locally-owned business instead of a large corporation.
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