As Christmas approaches and we consider the Christmas gifts we would like to purchase, it is worthwhile remembering how important the purchase is to the future of the local town. Retailers tell me one of the biggest challenges they face is the loss of business to online sales.
The internet has brought products into our lounge rooms from around the world and those who do it on a regular basis will tell you it is generally cheaper and gives you more choice. That may be true but I cannot imagine it is the case all the time. The worry is that it is one more sale that a business in your local town is not making, and generally these businesses employ local people.
The Productivity Commission reports online sales worth $12.6 billion last year, of which $4.2 billion were purchases from overseas websites. Online sales are expected to increase 10 to 15% each year for the next three years. There are over two-and-half-a-million small businesses in Australia and this sector employs between 4 and 5 million people. That’s a lot of people depending on your custom to survive. I realise many businesses offer goods online, but many in regional towns do not and they depend on people walking through the front door to make a purchase. These are the same businesses that offer after sales service and donate to your local fundraising events and charities.
So before you click on that product out of Sydney or somewhere overseas, check if it is available from a local business and do your bit to keep your town strong.
Senator John Williams,
The Nationals Duty Senator for New England
