Local trade
LOCAL & FAIR SHOPPING GUIDE
You may have come across our Guide in local shops and restaurants. It's a celebration of the large number of unique, independent shops we have in Crystal Palace, giving the area its special character. It also promotes local shopping because it makes our community more resilient in the face of economic uncertainty and reduces our impact on climate change. By indicating the businesses that offer products that are locally designed, grown or produced, organic, free-range, sustainably sourced, naturally produced, recycled, fairly traded or Fairtrade, it helps us choose where to shop and eat in a fairer and more sustainable way. If you didn't manage to get a copy this time, don't worry, we'll be revising and re-printing the Guide on a regular basis. Meanwhile, you can either download a pdf of the full Local and Fair Guide to Shopping and Eating in Crystal Palace ... or follow the links below to find some of the information. Here you'll find local businesses that sell one or more products that fit the categories above, with links to their websites, plus a handy guide to food labels to explain what those baffling logos on our food mean. |
WHY BUY LOCAL?
The Local and Fair Group encourages sustainability and fairness both locally and globally. Locally, we encourage traders to stock more locally produced, organic, sustainably sourced and fairly traded goods. We also encourage people to shop and eat in a way that is sustainable and fair to producers. One way we do this is by producing the Local and Fair Guide to Shopping and Eating in Crystal Palace (see left). We encourage people to buy locally because: 1 More money stays in the community: When you spend £100 at an independent business, £68 returns to the local community, compared with £43 if you buy from a national chain
2 More jobs are created for local people, including architects, designers, sign-makers, accountants etc 3 Local businesses offer a greater diversity of products and there is more scope for innovation 4 Local businesses are more likely to get involved in community action and to offer financial support for community initiatives 5 Local shops help maintain the area’s distinctive character 6 Local businesses are more likely to source from the local area (including edible gardens) 7 The more people that are employed locally, the fewer need to travel long distances to work, saving on energy consumption 8 Fewer people will use cars to go shopping 9 Local traders are more likely to chat to their customers to find out their interests and to respond to their needs and values 10 We can build a relationship with local businesses and support them in a transition towards sourcing more locally, sustainably and fairly |