Make the most of the rich and diverse bounty on your doorstep by Andrew Hirst 

Lazy shopping is all too easy. Open the app and just a few seconds later your virtual basket is brimming with items from who-knows where? Shopping is the same as everything in life… if you want something truly great you have to put in a little effort. Covid has opened many of our eyes to the reality of local. 

Shopping from local suppliers ticks many boxes. Obviously it is better for the planet with less miles travelled from tractor to table, not to mention the packaging and plastics not used. Yes, of course it helps to support the local economy, creating jobs and putting the pounds in the pockets of our neighbours rather than helping the lovely Jeff Bezos buy another super-yacht. The main reason for me is that the lazy shopping culture means that you miss out on all of the exceptional quality on offer in this bountiful region.

East Anglia has award-winners aplenty, with exceptional companies and artisans pouring love and passion into their produce. Wine, sauces, pies, meats, art, jewellery, cheese… the list is as endless as it is diverse. The only thing you need to do is add a little effort. Head out to the local high streets and markets and you will soon be heading home with a bumper haul of amazing acquisitions. 

Next day delivery is an amazing service. Aladdin would be stunned to witness that you can make anything you want appear… you’ll just have to wait 24 hours if you have prime. The smart-phone really is the new magic lamp to make all of our wishes come true. However the old adage is still ringing in our ears, “Be careful what you wish for.” 

Lazy shopping really is lazy shopping. Trawling the virtual mall from the sofa avoids leaving the house while you wait for the knock from the delivery driver. But the other weight is the one to watch. Is it really that much effort to head out and forage? We all need to up our step count so going the extra mile is worth the effort in many ways. Park further from the shop and march your way to better buys and a wonderful waist.

Can you find it cheaper online? Is cheapest really best? What is the provenance of the super cheap items from these faceless outlets? At the end of the day it’s down to personal choice, and how it fits in to your everyday. The most precious commodity on the planet is time. Heading off to the local farmers market may not fit with everyone’s school-run-office-juggle, so why not shop local online. Online doesn’t mean abandoning the local cause. Shopping online from local suppliers is just as easy, you just need to use your head. Build up your local knowledge and be the shop local digital geek. When we went from lockdown to lockdown the savvy retailers hit the laptops and beefed-up their online shopping experience. Most probably found themselves caught in a no-mans-land having the online shop on the to do list but never really getting to it. The reality of Covid made it more of a necessity. Retailers needed an outlet to engage with their consumers. Now that restrictions are eased, this online offering  has added, a much needed, extra string to their bow. This way you can literally have your local cake and eat it; delivered direct to your door.

Go out and get it or get it delivered? All you need is to do is put in a little effort to reap a great reward. So there really is no excuse not to shop local and love local.