Thank goodness consumers will read the Octavian Group (Blake Doyle) article in the December 12th, 2007 Guardian and laughingly ignore it.
It was pure business tripe, sort of “support poor us we’re your wealthy merchant class.”
First Doyle argues a Deloitte and Touche study proves the trickle down effect of shopping locally. The Deloitte study is highly questionable. D&T have a long history of business association. Why should consumers trust their opinion?
Second, our economy is based on capitalism – the best use of capital. Governments and businesses source their products and services at the best prices possible. This is of course why so much manufacturing has moved off-shore.
Why should consumers, the lowest people on the economic totem pole, pay more for things than they could otherwise?
Third, the big-lie that supporting local merchants is good for all in the community has been proven false over and over. Merchants are capitalists trying to get rich on the backs of low priced local labour. Wages rates in the retail sector are some of the lowest in our economy.
Merchants do not invest their profits in the local economy any more than they have to. The wealthy pay proportionately fewer taxes and invests its profits in the stock market or personal consumption like expensive travel, none of which benefit the local economy.
If consumers can save a buck, they will. Voting with their dollars is the only way to force merchants to price their goods competitively.
Sorry Blake we’re not with you. Of course, I’ll bet dollars for donuts you shop at Amazon.com too.
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