The change in consumer behaviour is undeniable. If you were to enter any home in Australia today, you would not see a sea of IKEA furniture that looks exactly like your neighbour’s living room. What you would see is a handmade dining table, ceramics, and throw rugs made by artisans just down the street.
“Shop Local” has evolved from just another catchy catchphrase for Small Business Saturdays to a way of life for homeowners who are becoming more and more aware of where their money is going and what they are inviting into their own home.
Quality and Craftsmanship
One of the main reasons for the change in consumer behaviour is the pursuit of quality. Unlike mass-produced items that are focused on getting out the door as quickly as possible, artisans are focused on getting it right.
When a carpenter creates a piece of Australian-made furniture in their workshop just down the street, they are not just building a piece of furniture out of wood. They are using their knowledge and skills, and using the best materials that they can get their hands on. They are building a piece of furniture that will stand the test of time, not just until the next furniture trend comes along. People are becoming more and more aware that it is better to buy one piece of furniture that is quality rather than three pieces of furniture that are not, and that will inevitably need to be replaced again and again.
Unique and Personalised Items
One of the biggest reasons that local items are important is that the home is an expression of who we are, and nothing is quite as impersonal as a room full of IKEA furniture. There is just something about a local item that provides the consumer with something that big-box stores simply cannot: individuality. There is a certain charm to a vase made by a local artist, with imperfections and quirks that tell the consumer a certain story.
When the consumer buys local, they are also able to make the item their own. They are able to speak with the maker of the item and make certain it is perfect for the home.
Supporting the Local Economy
One of the biggest benefits of buying local is the economic multiplier effect. When the consumer buys from the local artisan, they are essentially injecting money into the local economy and ensuring that the local business owner and the individuals who work with the artisan are able to feed their families and send the kids to school. This is a big part of the experience for many Australians and is simply not something that can be replicated with an international conglomerate.
Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness
One of the biggest problems with international conglomerates is the cost to the environment when it comes to transporting the products from the other side of the world. By purchasing the products from the local artisan, the consumer is able to significantly reduce the cost to the environment and the stress on the environment that the transportation and logistical costs will have. Not to mention the fact that the local artisan is likely to be an eco-friendly individual, which is a big draw for the modern-day consumer.
Transparency and Trust
If the homeowner purchases a jar of honey from a local beekeeper or a chair from a local furniture maker, then the supply chain is very transparent. The homeowner knows exactly where the product came from and who made it. This level of transparency creates a level of trust with the consumer. The homeowner does not have to guess the level of ethics used by a factory somewhere else in the world. This level of transparency creates a level of security with the consumer.
Examples of Popular Locally Made Products for Homes
This is evident in each and every room of the house. For instance, in the living room, the use of locally made timber furniture is replacing the veneer ones. In the bedroom, you will be able to find bed linens and other textiles designed and printed by Australian artists. Not only are these items comfortable and visually appealing, but they also carry with them a sense of uniqueness and personality.
The walls are also being decorated with art pieces from the local art galleries instead of the usual prints. The kitchen is also not exempted from the movement, with handmade cutting boards, pottery sets, and handmade knives adding a sense of uniqueness and elegance to our mealtimes.
Making a Conscious Choice
While supporting the use of locally made products is more about the aesthetics and functionality of the items we choose to decorate and furnish our homes with, it is also about making a choice. It is a choice to prioritise quality over quantity, the community over corporations, and sustainability over convenience. And as more and more people start to make this choice, our homes are not only becoming more visually appealing and unique but also more connected to the world outside our front door!
