NationStates Jolt Archive

The other day I went to my favourite falafel place. In December and November I went pretty frequently (I was writing my thesis and it's sort of on the way home), but I hadn't gone much lately because I've had time to cook for myself. So I go in and the guy working there has missed me coming in and asked if it was that I didn't like their food (I made sure to tell him that the food is awesome)... and like... now I feel a sense of responsibility to go there more often. It's a very small business and it's clear that they're trying to get more people in... and their food is yummy, but I can only eat so much.

Has anyone else ever felt this way about a local business?

Well, I've never been guilt-tripped, but yeah, I have a few favorite places that I do feel a kind of customer/service provider relationship with.

I live on a road with nothing except a post office a few miles one way, and a supermarket a few miles the other. There aren't any local businesses for me to support. And when I'm at university, there's only big chains on campus, really, so same there.

I love falafel. We've no shortage of them here in germany.

obviously their business needs your support. I think perhaps a mere spreading of the word would be enough. Or at the very least telling him you are telling friends about it.

There's the local chippy down the road. I haven't had fish and chips for a while so maybe I'll pay him a visit tomorrow. I'm going to be too tired to cook anyway.

obviously their business needs your support. I think perhaps a mere spreading of the word would be enough. Or at the very least telling him you are telling friends about it.
Well, I have told my friends about it, the problem is that most of my friends sort of suck at going downtown so it doesn't help much.

There is something lovely about walking into your local place and having them ask you if you'd like your usual, or bringing over a taste of something new, or saying, "I know you love our XXX, why don't you give our YYY a try?"

I always bring people to or direct them to local places I like and tip well. I find that it enhances the customer/business relationship quite a bit.

The other day I went to my favourite falafel place. In December and November I went pretty frequently (I was writing my thesis and it's sort of on the way home), but I hadn't gone much lately because I've had time to cook for myself. So I go in and the guy working there has missed me coming in and asked if it was that I didn't like their food (I made sure to tell him that the food is awesome)... and like... now I feel a sense of responsibility to go there more often. It's a very small business and it's clear that they're trying to get more people in... and their food is yummy, but I can only eat so much.

Has anyone else ever felt this way about a local business?

It's something I usually try to do, anyway. I like local business as a model, and will go out of my way to hit three smaller specialists and avoid Wal-Mart completely. I've been both sides of that customer/business paradigm, and that relationship is one of my favourite things about that kind of work.. and yet another reason to bypass Wal-Mart.

Has anyone else ever felt this way about a local business?

yes, quite a lot. i want to support my local restaurants - especially my favourite chinese place (Mr So's in Winchester) and curry place (Sultans of Spice down the road). plus the farmers' market in Winchester, and a few other places. i'm always loyal to my favourite places, but during this recession i feel they need my patronage even more. i love getting known by these people, getting friendly and know a bit more about them than i would with a chain. the curry place i've been going to for over 10 years, and i know the owner enough by now to chat about quite a lot of stuff :)

that said, there aren't any local (retail) shops i support that much. there's a farm shop, but that's about it, and its a bit out of the way (and i buy from them at the farmers' market anyway). this is mostly because a) there are no local shops, its all chains, and b) the only local shops that used to be round here, were pretty shite. i'm actually quite glad the local newsagent got taken over, cos it was a nasty little shop with awful staff and way overpriced.

I would if I could afford to.

Yeah, I know what you mean. If you really like a place you want to support it. I actually tend to try and spend money in what I think are the good local places 'cos they are an asset to me.

Also, one of my closest friends runs one of the best Chinese places in the city. When I eat chinese elsewhere, I feel a bit like I am insulting him. It's rubbish of course, and he doesn't give a fuck, because we go out for chinese food in other places together. Still...

maybe you could cut a deal.
If you can get 10 more regulars going in per day or week or whatever number of people is appropriate to your population centre, you could ask for a discount or get certain foods free, that way you get cheaper food and they get more business. win win all round.
just an idea.
I have a favourite small coffee bar place i don't go in alot but i like it there, it's easier to spend in places you feel welcome in.
Sure i buy loads of food from large supermarkets and it's probably cheaper than smaller stores but i just feel like another drone going in for food or whatver i need, i just go there through necessity than because i like the larger stores.

I love small businesses and try to patronize them whenever possible, I learn the names of the owners, and I treat them nicely, always buy something when I stop in no matter how small it is. There is a relationship between small business owners and thier customers that is something you will never get from a large chain store. I recently went to a restaraunt in pittsburgh I haven't been to in years, they greeted me by name and already knew what I wanted, THAT is dedicated service.

maybe you could cut a deal.
If you can get 10 more regulars going in per day or week or whatever number of people is appropriate to your population centre, you could ask for a discount or get certain foods free, that way you get cheaper food and they get more business. win win all round.
just an idea.

Well, the cost of the food isn't really the problem. I mean, yes, I can't afford to eat there every meal, but a sandwich and a drink is under $5 so it's actually pretty good (even compared to other pita places, especially the ones with shitty quality). It's more that well, so I like falafel, but I don't like eating it every single meal and also, I enjoy cooking for myself. I just want their business to do well even if I'm not in there every night because I don't have time to make my own dinner.

Sure i buy loads of food from large supermarkets and it's probably cheaper than smaller stores but i just feel like another drone going in for food or whatver i need, i just go there through necessity than because i like the larger stores.

I don't buy groceries at big stores except for some items that I can't get elsewhere without paying 4 times the price. I find I spend less when I'm not going up and down the aisles stumbling across junk food.

There is a wine-tasting 'store' (for lack of better word) near me. I take friends, family and business associates there all the time in an attempt to help them succeed.

Ther is a Thai restaurant where I take people to lunch also - but that is because I am addicted to their Pad thai.

I wish I got a commission for all the people I've referred to these two places.

We have a restaurant over by Dartmouth College which we frequent quite often and we are acquainted with the management. I think it's nice when management and staff go the extra mile to make a connection with the customer, and I like to reward them for it with referrals.