| Depending on the season and what type of food | | | | stops you being lazy.Customer service is much |
| I buy, I generally do a big shop at the | | | | better too. At the supermarket, the checkout |
| supermarket every two weeks or so. The odd | | | | staff will often offer the obligatory 'Hello,' and 'Can |
| items will need to be topped up of course, | | | | I help you with your packing.' Rarely do you find |
| especially in the summer as fresh produce | | | | the genuine staff for whom it is more than just a |
| obviously doesn't last as long as tinned, packet or | | | | job and are actually interested in providing you |
| frozen.Most often nowadays I'll use on line | | | | with the best service possible. At the local store, |
| shopping. Sit there on your computer, clicking | | | | the staff tend to get to know their customers. |
| away with your mouse, adding items to your | | | | Become a regular and it will brighten your day |
| virtual basket, picking a delivery date, confirming | | | | when you enter the shop to greeted by name, |
| your order and your shopping is delivered to your | | | | and a quick conversation will make you feel less |
| door. You only have to pack it away in your | | | | like you are just an army ant doing your job but |
| kitchen.There's no travel involved, no hunting | | | | never receiving recognition.Here are two personal |
| around the car park, battling with ignorant people | | | | examples:When I was six years old, I lived in a |
| who always think they 'own' a particular spot. | | | | part of Wales until I was nine years old. The local |
| there's no wandering around the isles with the | | | | shop was like a mecca to my sister and I. Our |
| wobbly trolley from hell, and you don't have to | | | | Mother would often send us there on errands. |
| put up with those people who block the aisle with | | | | When I was fifteen, I re-visited that shop, and |
| their trolleys and give you the evil eye if you dare | | | | the old lady who had been proprietor back then |
| to say 'excuse me please.'Even without the stress | | | | was still there. Even though I had only lived in the |
| of the supermarkets, they are convenient, | | | | area for three years as a child, and had changed |
| they're packed with almost everything you could | | | | quite a bit, she still remembered my Mother, |
| want, under one roof. The larger ones now even | | | | sister and I.I lived in an area of Scotland for |
| sell furniture and electrical items, so you can pick | | | | roughly eighteen months, moved away for four |
| up a new PC or Plasma TV with your litre of milk | | | | years, and when I came back, the shopkeeper in |
| and box of organic free-range eggs. The | | | | my local store not only remembered me, but |
| supermarket is impersonal. There's a certain | | | | greeted me warmly and told me it was nice to |
| anonymity to shopping in one of the great big | | | | see me back.It's not that I have a memorable |
| hangars of produce. There is a thought/attitude | | | | face. Nor is it because I am well known. It is |
| of 'I just want to get in, get my shopping and | | | | simply because in the vast majority of cases, the |
| leave. I don't want to be hassled.'Supermarkets do | | | | local storekeepers care about the community, |
| provide a service, and in this stressful, busy world | | | | giving good customer service, and finding out in a |
| we now live in, it has become an invaluable | | | | personal way how better to serve your shopping |
| service.What about the local store though?These | | | | needs.Use your local shop. The more people use |
| can range from the very small offering only the | | | | them, the better society will become. People will |
| most basic of items to the medium sized who | | | | enjoy shopping more, children will become |
| seem to stock all the basics and a few extras. Go | | | | educated to their community, supermarkets will |
| into any local store and a quick look around will | | | | have to improve in the areas they are lacking and |
| orientate you as to where all the items are.Local | | | | it will help reduce pollution, as more people stop |
| shops are just that, local. There's no need to get | | | | using their cars for such small journeys.Sue Neve |
| into your car for the short drive, polluting the | | | | is a graduate of the university of life. She can be |
| atmosphere. The short walk for you and your | | | | regularly found trying to educate others to |
| children is a great way to get out of your house, | | | | understand society around them through |
| out of your car and can help you keep fit. It | | | | discussions on many subjects. |