Why shop with Harriet and Rose
If there’s one thing that 2020 has taught us (aside from the fact it has laughed in the face of our plans), it’s that we can vote with our money. Whether it’s choosing to buy local where possible, or to import, every time we make a purchase, we are voting for the sort of retail future that we want. And with that, comes responsibility.
When things first kicked off with Covid-19, I admit, I went local. Organic veg boxes, small local butchers… the honesty box at the end of my road. This was not an entirely selfless act. I may have dressed it up as one, but it was mostly because I did not want to queue at the Supermarket, and - moreover - knew that I’d have to shop imaginatively if I shopped small, whereas the one time I made it into Waitrose, I felt like I was in one of the bad episodes of Ready, Steady, Cook! (and without the stocked larder full of essentials). And don’t get me started on the stockpiled goods of choice such as loo roll and tampons. Because at no point were excessive pooing and menstruation listed as symptoms of Covid-19.
I digress.
I spoke at length (and even blogged about) how the pandemic would change my shopping habits permanantly. And they have. But perhaps not as radically as I had thought they would. Obviously ‘popping’ to the shops is a thing of the past, and I have not been shopping for clothes since this began (this is not a radical change). It’s easy to say I’ll buy fewer clothes when I have plenty, and no holidays to buy a new swimming costume or dress for ‘just because’. This is not what is meant by permanantly changing my shopping habits. This is just what I was doing anyway.
However, I had for the last two weeks returned to the Supermarket. Given the homeschooling situation and WFH, this was happening on Saturday morning whereas I’d always done it on a Friday afternoon before. Because nothing says weekend like a trip to the Supermarket. That coupled with the fact I work for myself, and do not stop responding to emails at the weekend, means that I can rarely tell you what day of the week it is, because they all feel the same. Except the husband is at home for two of them, but I’m at the Supermarket/doing 73 loads of washing, so that also doesn’t feel too different (just another person to tell to put their dishes in the dishwasher).
So this week, I’m going back to what I said I’d do all along… I’m shopping small, and I’m shopping local. I’ve ordered my organic fruit and veg box, and I’m going to combine the school pick up with a trip to our local butchers. I’m going to get fresh, local fish and shellfish again, and I’m going to turn the supermarket shop into a fortnightly or monthly trip for storecupboard and other essentials (which yes, include loo roll).
I’m also trying to rethink my days. I, and I suspect many of us, have become used to being in our homes, with a trip out to a beach or a walk in the lanes to break things up. Instead of grabbing a sandwich at home (or forgetting to eat until 3pm), I’m trying to go out, to buy coffee at a cafe, to grab a Panini… to support local businesses who are adapting and trying to emerge from this changed, better, but most importantly, still afloat.
Harriet and Rose is a website, and I know that it’s lovely to get out and buy gifts ‘in real life’, but I also know that not everyone is ready for that. And not everyone has time for that now that things are getting ‘back’ to normal. Harriet and Rose supports local creators, alongside other small creative businesses. We stock ethical, sustainable gifts, and we’re here so that you can buy in sunshine (because no one likes shopping when it’s a beach day), and rain (because what easier way to shop than from your sofa). There’s no worry about something not arriving in plenty of time - we can deliver same day, next day, and on Saturdays. Our free delivery option uses Jersey Post. What I think I’m trying to inelegantly say (in the half hour that the puppy sleeps), is that we have to remember the good things from lockdown… the things that we did that we thought ‘I’m going to keep having beer from Stinky Bay delivered because it’s local and delicious!’, or ‘those burgers were better than any I’ve had from the Supermarket’. It’s nice to be able to return to a new normal (fingers crossed and all that… there is still a long way to go), but let’s make sure we don’t forget the bits of it that were good. Like shopping small, shopping local, and helping the Jersey Economy to thrive.
So keep supporting your favourites. Don’t forget who went out of the way to get something to you during lockdown… and more importantly, don’t forget that you - and where you spend your money - will genuinely determine which businesses can survive in the island.
Why not add your local recommendations in the comments below?
Photo by Holly Smith.