The Difference Between Shopping Local vs. Shopping at Big Box Stores

photo by author

Big box stores are convenient and cheap which is what makes them so successful. It’s a one-stop shop for all your needs in some cases. You need dog food, milk, toilet cleaner and a rake? You know there’s one place you can go to get everything on your list.

You arrive in the huge parking lot with a couple hundred people all doing the exact same thing you are. They’re in a rush, have their own lives to get back to. You fight your way down the aisles, dodging the workers who mostly hate their jobs.

Finally, after wanted to scream at people to get out of your way, you arrive at the check-out area. Now’s when you make the big choice. Do you go with the one lane open where someone else can ring up your own groceries while scowling, or do you go to the one lane that leads to the self-check out area where you have to do it yourself.

By the time you arrive back at your car, your stress level is peaked and you still have to drive home. Had you not even gone in, that company could have cared less.

Now, on the other hand is shopping locally.

In my quest this year to improve my health, I’ve been looking for a good source of local honey. For the last couple of months I couldn’t find any, and ended up buying the bottle you see on the left for…