Letters / Golden opportunity
In response to Scott Preston A local shop is for life; SN 28/11/14:
I praise your reply Scott and have personally supported local shops in Shetland for almost 40 years. However depending on your location and place of work there are many folk who just cannot get everything they need in a local shop.
The evidence for this is that owners of local shops are regularly seen in the Co-op or Tesco, either buying things for their shop due to the price being lower than at their wholesaler, or are fed up with their evening meal choice due simply by the restrictions on the range, retail space and customer base in their small shop.
I am not disagreeing with anything Scott says but in the real world there are many folk who have no local shop, have no transport and have very low incomes necessitating everything cheap and in one place.
Local produce sold in local outlets is of immense importance and we ignore this at our peril because the supermarket’s global distribution model will totally fail when the cost of fuel prevents green beans being flown into the UK by jumbo jet from Kenya and supermarket shelves become bare.
My point is that – like them or not – ‘supermarkets’ here in Shetland and elsewhere are in serious trouble and it’s a golden opportunity for local producers, shops, farmers markets etc to step up to the opportunity their failings present.
Vic Thomas
Clousta
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.