Buy local and help our island recover from the downturn
Saturday 17th October 2009, 2:29PM BST.
Chamber president Paul Luxon launches the I BUY GSY campaign. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0856778)
Launching its new campaign ‘I Buy GSY’ today with the support of the Guernsey Press, Chamber of Commerce president Paul Luxon said the plan was to raise awareness of how people could support the island’s economy.
Where possible, buying from businesses with a presence in Guernsey will help ensure money and jobs stay here.
That could mean buying locally-produced fruit and vegetables from farmers’ markets, using fishmongers, sampling cheeses made locally or selecting locally-grown mushrooms or Guernsey-reared meat.
Alternatively, it could mean supporting island restaurants, stores and using Guernsey-based services.
Chamber president Paul Luxon said the ‘buy local’ concept was more important than ever following the global financial market crash.
And pressure is continuing to mount on Guernsey to protect its interests.
Mr Luxon said every pound spent in Guernsey, whether on goods or services, large or small, generated profits and tax income.
But Mr Luxon said he was not suggesting that everyone must buy local all the time.
‘There will be instances where a local company simply cannot provide what is required, but if a service or product is available on island then supporting that local company or provider benefits us all.’
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Island Life
All about Guernsey
Ambassador of the Year 2011
History & Heritage
Visitor Information
Guernsey's government
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Useful Links
This is a great idear but ordering off the internet is so much cheaper and straight to your doorstep in 2/3 days where as to order from a town shop how long weeks months ? who knows also how much do local farmers fishmongers and growers produce for local markets or for export is this trying to go independant if you want jobs to stay why then do growers look outside the island for workers? how many locals do you see in restaurants nowdays?
Report abuse
Guernsey is suffering because of people like you with the internet mentality, Guernsey is losing its appeal of local shops because of all the big English chains coming in, local retailers who put in the long hours and work exceptionally hard for the ‘office workers’ just to go and order online is unfair and this is why Guernsey is suffering, traditional places such as Maison Carre have gone and stores such as Sports Direct have come in, having lived in England for a few years, I know what I would rather local traditional shops.
Report abuse
I bought a DVD ROM drive in town today from a small independent retailer, It was no more cost than the big UK mail order chains, It was a nice to speak to someone who cared, and quicker than the browser. We live on a small island let us support our small retailers.
Report abuse
Great idea this campaign, but a great pity the States don’t back it up with work for the construction industry. There are currently two contracts being done by UK contractors, Castle Cornet and believe it or not the Social Services building…………..I kid you not!
Report abuse
I try to use local pr0stitutes as often as possible, even with the massive influx of foreign ones!
Report abuse
Bill
I would be amazed if the price compares with Amazon or ebay!
Report abuse
Well if the postal strike does any good at all, it may well be good for local retailers as customers may think twice about ordering online.
Report abuse
It is a pity when things always come back to price. Yes, price is one aspect, but it is not necessarily the most important.
For me it is important to be able to speak to someone who fully understands his product, knows how it works, knows its shortcomings, can compare its features to the alternatives, and knows how reliable it might be and how many come back for repair or exchange.
For this he needs to have sold hundreds of units, in order to build up an understanding of his product . This is why I almost always buy outside Guernsey. On the rare occasions I have bought locally, I have found that the salesman doesn’t really know much about his product, and sometimes even has to resort to reading a manaul.
Then, should it break, I find I have no consumer rights and will simply be referred to the manufacturer.
No, I far prefer informed customer service, backed up by consumer law, and I am happy to pay a premium for it. The fact that it is actually cheaper is a bonus.
Yes, I agree that this is causing local shops to close. But why should I worry. I rarely use them so I won’t miss them.
Report abuse
Buy local to help our island recover from the downturn.
I did that with my Landsbanki Guernsey deposit – never again.
Consumer and depositor protection is vastly better off island.
Report abuse
Interesting article and I support the notion that where you can, you should support the local economy. However, it is worth noting that I would only do so on the basis that I was indifferent between purchasing in Guernsey, or online.
I would pay more, for a product sold by the local retailers, as long as it was approximate to the online deals. The problem I have, is frankly local retailers often provide shockingly bad service. Prices are substantially higher, choice is vastly lower and often delivery is ‘when they feel like it’. A good example would be a TV bought online when compared to locally. Substantially cheaper, higher quality, more extras, free delivery and reliable delivery time. Unfortunately, that was the online experience. The local experience is substantially more expensive, basic model, ‘doing me a favour selling it to me’, poor after sales, vague understanding of features and laughable delay in delivery.
Buy Guernsey is not going to work.
Report abuse
An added boost to Guernseys earnings via the Electricity Board would be to supply & fit Solar panel units on a rental basis,this would also help in cutting down on the production of electricty,ie global warming from generators using loads of oil etc.plus the maintenance costs would be greatly reduced,& the States would also earn more from their share of the profits
Report abuse