Supporting local businesses have been advocated time and again because it has plenty of benefits not only for the business owners but also to the communities they belong in. The University of Alabama at Birmingham outlined three merits of spending money on local enterprises. We are sharing two of them.
One, you get personalized services. “Small-business owners treasure the relationships they have with all of their customers,” reads the article. Hence, expect that you’ll experience more than business transactions. You’ll receive friendly exchanges as well.
Two, you get innovative products and/or services. Local business have to persist in being relevant to stay in the game. One way they do that is by adding unique spins to the goods they offer so customers will keep on coming back. That means you can expect a unique experience and personalized items ever time.
Why We Encourage Supporting Local Businesses (esp. carabao farmers)
- If Filipinos rely on imported goods, the income that could be earned by their fellowmen remains outside of our country; more money flows away from the Philippines instead of circulating within and supporting our local economy. Dairy in the Philippines is a billion-dollar industry, but only 3% of the revenues go back to our farmers producing the milk. The playing field is saturated by multinationals with their massive resources, and imported goods made super affordable by subsidies and tax breaks.
- Reliance on imported raw materials not only excludes our smallholder farmers but undermines any efforts to help improve their productivity so they can participate in the value chain. Whenever we choose products with mostly imported ingredients (most dairies in the Philippines are made of powdered cow milk from other countries), never mind foreign brands, we take money away from Filipinos, especially our farmers. But when we choose local, we shift the earnings directly back to Filipinos, who benefit not just from the sale of finished goods, but also of raw materials and other components, such as packaging.
- Foods lose their nutritional value the farther they travel from their original source. This is because the farther they travel, the longer they “breathe.” And the longer they stay unconsumed, the fewer nutrients they retain. According to Livestrong, loss of nutrients is because of:
- respiration
- enzymes
- ripeness
CalaBoo is committed to paying farmers an above-market price for their milk, and to reinvesting part of our profits to provide value-added services that will raise their quality of life. Supporting our core business model is a strong ecosystem of public and private partners, and we hope as consumers you can actively participate in the enrichment of fellow Filipinos and our country as a whole. By making conscious consumer choices and “Loving Local” you become an integral part of building a social market that helps lift our nation out of poverty and into shared prosperity.
References:
Greenwood, B. (n.d.). “How Do Fruits and Vegetables Lose Their Nutrients After Picking?” Livestrong. Retrieved from https://www.livestrong.com/article/447449-how-do-fruits-and-vegetables-lose-their-nutrients-after-picking/
The University of Alabama at Birmingham. (n.d). “The Benefits of Supporting Small Businesses.” Retrieved from https://businessdegrees.uab.edu/business-administration-degree-masters/benefits-of-supporting-small-business/