2020, the year of Glen 20, has been a hell of a year so far. We have seen human reactions from opposite ends of the spectrum.
By Drake's director John-Paul Drake.
The world came together to support Australia during the worst bush fires. Then countries were quickly forced to close their borders and take care of themselves when COVID-19 arrived. I have no doubt that we as a country will unite and regroup. We do that. It is our mind. It is the Australian way.
I have been preaching from my milk crate (sorry, WH&S team) about the support of the locals for years. It's something I'm really passionate about. If there is a good thing to get out of the COVID-19 situation, it is that the larger community realizes the importance of taking care of each other and ensuring that we support the local community first. It is now more critical than ever.
When I say "local support" I mean your local fruit shop, butcher, cafe or supermarket. I mean the furniture store that makes their couch in Australia. I mean the tire shop of a local family. I mean those companies that pay their full taxes to pay for our road, health and education systems. I mean these local Australian companies that are reinvesting their profits in your suburb, state, territory or country.
For me, that means providing local support: keeping money in Australia and taking care of our community first. Is that selfish? In any case. Is that exactly what the rest of the world is doing? For sure. As a country, we have a responsibility to maintain ourselves as much as possible. Ask yourself: what happens if all of our milk is foreign-owned – if we produce it but can't get fresh milk ourselves? Will the other countries keep some for Australia or will they send them home?
Since the panic buying and hoarding of COVID-19, there has been a major social media movement that supports local businesses and products made and owned in Australia. This is astonishing, but it makes you think: is this for reasons of consumer friendliness, because imported products take longer to get on our shelves, or is the supportive local message finally taking hold? I like to think it's the latter because I think consumers are more conscious about making choices to support local products and want more Australian products and their own. I saw it in our stores and heard from my customers. This movement is real and excites me. The real test will be whether the movement continues to grow as soon as the shelves are full and life goes back to normal.
I am a realist. I know we can't make everything in Australia, but if the option is available to choose a local product over an imported product, you need to coordinate with your car. It is time for us to stand together and realize how important it is to be there first, not only for our future but also for the future of our children.
How do you support local ones? Ask me on one of my platforms below!
LinkedIn: @johnpauldrake
Facebook: @JPDrakeAU
Website: www.jpdrake.com.au
YouTube: JP Drake
Instagram: @ ake.and.drake
Podcast: / DucksDontGetColdFeet
About John-Paul Drake
John-Paul Drake has retail in his blood. When Trolley Boy and a stacker started working in the family business 30 years ago, his passion for retail is firmly anchored as the director of Drakes Supermarkets. He is a staunch supporter of local support and is not afraid to call it what he sees it.
Spread the love for local was first published in Retail World Magazine.
