Shop Local Challenge 2021

There’s no denying that most of us were extremely happy to see the back of 2020. Whilst 2020 was fairly kind to me compared with many others, I still found it a tough year. It still threw me a few curve balls which I needed to devote my attention to (hence my silence on my social media and on the blog).

Whenever I’ve gone through a year like this, I find that giving myself a challenge or setting a goal is an excellent way to make the next year much more positive and memorable. It gives me something to focus on and gives the year much more meaning.

In the past you’ve seen me do other challenges such as my “52 Things in 52 Weeks” list in 2019 (by the way, I achieved all 52 things in the 52 weeks – see my Instagram highlights for the photographic evidence). I felt very touched that many of you felt inspired and played along with your own list.

I didn’t realise just how wide an impact my list made on others until I was at a party in November 2020 where I met a lady I will call ‘Jess’. ‘Jess’ told me that her whole office were inspired by my 2019 challenge. So much so that they made a group “52 Things” list for 2020 and put it up on a big board in the office. Sadly, they didn’t get very far before Covid hit and stopped their team from finishing it (I encouraged her to re-start and finish it in 2021 if restrictions allow).

So… to ensure I do have a ‘better year’, to have something to focus on and perhaps [hopefully] inspire a few others, I’ve decided I need a new focus. A new challenge. Something a little bit different. The “Shop Local Challenge 2021”.

What does this mean?

Basically it means that throughout 2021, I will be trying, as much as possible, to shop in local shops. For example, instead of buying clothing like a tee shirt from a large chain, I will buy it from a local boutique or from an online small business. Instead of buying fuel from a larger fuel company, I’ll buy it from an independent station or a smaller fuel company. It means buying my meat from the local butcher or buying my fruit and vegetables from the local green grocer and only buy what you cannot source locally from the supermarkets. If I have someone’s birthday present coming up, I can buy their gift at a local [online] store or even at the local markets.

Why do this?

After a horrible 2020 (which is looking like it will extend into 2021), many small local businesses are suffering and finding it difficult to keep their doors open. Some haven’t even returned after the last lockdown and have folded. This is just a small way to support them. A small action to us, but to them, it means much more. Think of it as supporting your neighbour or a ‘pay it forward’ action – and we all know I love a good ‘pay it forward’ deed.

What does ‘local’ mean?

Local can mean different things to different people. It can mean your close community/suburb, your wider or greater community or area, your whole state or even your whole country. Local could also mean small online businesses or shops that do not have stores wider than your town, state or country. It’s up to you to decide how wide you want to cast your local net.

Where was this inspired?

This is not a new concept. It has existed for a while in various forms by various people.

I was inspired by one of my favourite actors Allan Hawco who is the main actor in the television series Republic of Doyle (you can watch it in Australia on Netflix). Over Christmas 2020, he was challenging his friends via social media to support local. That’s where my challenge idea began to formulate (watch Allan Hawco’s Facebook video post here).

This, along with reflecting on the year that was as one does at the end of a year, the wanting to do something different in 2021, and the serendipitous appearance of the photo from a friend in Messenger above, it all just seemed to evolve all at once.

How can I participate or follow along?

I’ve started the hashtag #shoplocalchallenge2021 on social media. You can participate by posting a photo of yourself shopping local, the product you buy or the store itself, along with this hashtag, anytime you shop local. You can also search for that hashtag in your social media platform and see where people are shopping local. Perhaps you might see something you like and go and shop there yourself.

Whenever I shop local throughout the year, I’m going to try and take a photo of that shop or purchase and upload it to my social media stories/feed with the hashtag and the store. I will also follow the hashtag and if I notice any of your posts or stories, I can re-post it in my stories for others to see and give the shop a bit more exposure.

While playing along in the challenge yourself, you could challenge and encourage others to also shop local in a post or a video on your social media like Allan Hawco did in his video.

Sharing this post with your friends so that they can read all about it is another way to recruit them to join the challenge.

Imagine how much of a difference you would make in the lives of others if we made a conscious change in our shopping habits, even just a little. Imagine the good karma that will come back to you or the warm fuzzy feeling you will get from shopping local knowing that the ripple effect of your actions will positively impact many others.

So how about it? Will you join me in the “Shop Local Challenge 2021”? You can post your commitment and support in the comments below.

Stock photos by pixabay.com