So I was thinking a lot today... about a lot of things. First off... I got an audio book a while back from a Library about the "Walmart Effect" and I picked it up because I had thought it was going to go into the negative stigmas that Walmart brings to this country and other countries. Finally I popped it into the CD player today to see what the author had to say on the subject and was sorely disappointed. I listened to the first CD and the entire CD seemed to be pro-Walmart and what Walmart does. Now don't get me wrong... sometimes I enjoy hearing apposing views but this man was out of his mind. This started me on a rant inside my head about corporations and made me repledge to NEVER shop at Walmart. For the longest time I've done my oil changes with Walmart but even that must stop. Why am I so anti-Walmart and anti-corporations? SIMPLE... all they care about is money. In fact, corporations care so much about money that they're willing to choke the little independent shops until they cry "Bankrupt! BANKRUPT!" and all these corporations do is laugh and count their profits. Sure, everybody likes money but money isn't everything. Those small independent businesses, do you know why they have that business? Most people in today's society would say "Oh, because they make lots of money!" NO PEOPLE! These people start these small businesses because they like whatever they're doing, they like the products they sell, and they want to make a modest living doing and selling the things that they LIKE!
Prime example: Monkey See, Monkey Do is a GREAT toy store here in Austin on South Congress. They sell the toys other toystores wouldn't DREAM of having much less Toys R Us. Their aim is not towards the kids that like action figures but the adults and teenagers who like the unconvential, strange, and unique toys. There they have the UNKL toys which all have obscure artwork and unique "personalities" as well as a million other cool things. The owner of that store also owns Big Top candy store which is two doors down. Walking into Big Top is like walking into a carnivalesque toy store of the 1950s. The man behind the counter is often dressed as they would in the 1950s and you can commonly hear bands like the local White Ghost Shivers playing on the stereo (Which, mind you, sounds very 50sish). Why did Brandon, the store owner, create these stores? Because there wasn't anything like that out there and because he LOVES the things he sells. Sure, prices may be a little higher than Toys R Us or Walmart but you're paying for somebody to do something they love and to make a living off of it... It's the old fashioned American dream isn't it?
Luckily Brandon's stores are located in the unconvential South Congress section of Austin where local shops make the "Keep Austin Weird" slogan alive and vibrant. The time I have lived here in Austin (only about 3 years) I have noticed that there are FIVE STREETS that cater to local businesses... South Congress, S. First St, Lamar, Guadalupe, and North Loop dr. And even on these streets you won't go too far without seeing a Burger King or a Taco Bell. The farther you go into North Austin the less local businesses you have but more Walmarts, Targets, Best Buys, McDonalds, and Toys R Us. Slowly I'm seeing these businesses extend farther south leaving downtown exclusive for local business. Walmart is NOT a community store that wants to enrich the community, the local Wheatsville Food Co-Op is (it's even stated in their mission statement).
Now for anything relating to my car I will go to Barrett's auto shop where the only employees are the owner and his wife. They are EXCELLENT with customer service, insanely friendly, honest, specialize in the type of car I drive, and are trying to live off of what they love to do. For groceries Wheatsville Coop will be the ONLY place I go... if they don't have what I'm looking for I'll just have to go without. For home furnishings Goodwill will be the spot... I don't believe they're local but they prevent things from going into landfills and employ people other companies turn down. For books Bookpeople will get my vote. CDs has always been Cheapo Discs or Waterloo Records. I don't go anywhere not local restaraunt wise because the environment and the abundance of good vegan options in the LOCAL restaraunts. Convenience is NOT everything. Cost is NOT everything. Supporting people and what they love to do is the BEST thing you can do for another human being. Please boycott Walmart with me.
I also was going through a rant about the pharaceutical industry but that one will have to wait until next time.
Prime example: Monkey See, Monkey Do is a GREAT toy store here in Austin on South Congress. They sell the toys other toystores wouldn't DREAM of having much less Toys R Us. Their aim is not towards the kids that like action figures but the adults and teenagers who like the unconvential, strange, and unique toys. There they have the UNKL toys which all have obscure artwork and unique "personalities" as well as a million other cool things. The owner of that store also owns Big Top candy store which is two doors down. Walking into Big Top is like walking into a carnivalesque toy store of the 1950s. The man behind the counter is often dressed as they would in the 1950s and you can commonly hear bands like the local White Ghost Shivers playing on the stereo (Which, mind you, sounds very 50sish). Why did Brandon, the store owner, create these stores? Because there wasn't anything like that out there and because he LOVES the things he sells. Sure, prices may be a little higher than Toys R Us or Walmart but you're paying for somebody to do something they love and to make a living off of it... It's the old fashioned American dream isn't it?
Luckily Brandon's stores are located in the unconvential South Congress section of Austin where local shops make the "Keep Austin Weird" slogan alive and vibrant. The time I have lived here in Austin (only about 3 years) I have noticed that there are FIVE STREETS that cater to local businesses... South Congress, S. First St, Lamar, Guadalupe, and North Loop dr. And even on these streets you won't go too far without seeing a Burger King or a Taco Bell. The farther you go into North Austin the less local businesses you have but more Walmarts, Targets, Best Buys, McDonalds, and Toys R Us. Slowly I'm seeing these businesses extend farther south leaving downtown exclusive for local business. Walmart is NOT a community store that wants to enrich the community, the local Wheatsville Food Co-Op is (it's even stated in their mission statement).
Now for anything relating to my car I will go to Barrett's auto shop where the only employees are the owner and his wife. They are EXCELLENT with customer service, insanely friendly, honest, specialize in the type of car I drive, and are trying to live off of what they love to do. For groceries Wheatsville Coop will be the ONLY place I go... if they don't have what I'm looking for I'll just have to go without. For home furnishings Goodwill will be the spot... I don't believe they're local but they prevent things from going into landfills and employ people other companies turn down. For books Bookpeople will get my vote. CDs has always been Cheapo Discs or Waterloo Records. I don't go anywhere not local restaraunt wise because the environment and the abundance of good vegan options in the LOCAL restaraunts. Convenience is NOT everything. Cost is NOT everything. Supporting people and what they love to do is the BEST thing you can do for another human being. Please boycott Walmart with me.
I also was going through a rant about the pharaceutical industry but that one will have to wait until next time.