17th September 2025
Shopping locally can help strengthen communities, but how much weight do people give to this when deciding where to buy?
In our latest website poll, every single respondent — a resounding 100% — said it’s somewhat important. This is the first time since starting these polls that our voters have shown complete agreement on an issue. It shows that people do value supporting local shops and services, but convenience still tends to come first when making day-to-day purchasing decisions.
Interestingly, no one said that they always prioritise local businesses, but neither did anyone say that it doesn’t matter to them at all. This suggests that while supporting local business is important to a lot of people, practicality and ease are often more important in the moment.
The results highlight a middle ground: people want to contribute to their communities when they can, but they balance this with the realities of time, cost, and accessibility.
| How important is it for you to support local businesses when making purchases? | Results |
| Very important, I always prioritise local shops and services | 0% |
| Somewhat important, I try when I can, but convenience often comes first | 100% |
| I don’t really focus on where businesses are located | 0% |
| It’s not a priority for me at all | 0% |
This month, we’re asking for your views on back-to-school shopping. Share your thoughts here!