This is 2009, not 1950!

from the editors desk...

While we have been compiling all the Giveaways for our '15 min Awesome Ad' Promotion we have obviously been speaking to a heap of our Premium businesses onsite, unusual for us, as obviously being an online medium we normally interact by email, not on the phone. Many of these businesses have been extremely generous, and for that we are grateful, as it will be brilliant for our visitors having over $25,000 in Giveaways to have a chance of scoring, BUT, there have been so many comments in regard to NOT getting 'local support'... I know that times are a bit tougher recently, though was not aware that there was still a 'local is not good enough' attitude out there?

This is the year 2009, not 1950? The Sunshine Coast is not a dinky little grouping of small communities anymore, but for some reason, there still seems to be a pervading idea that if you want something done 'well', or 'professionally' that you need to go off-coast to do it? You Don't! We have many businesses here on the coast that are doing really top quality work, and if you take the time to get some quotes, have a look at them, you may be really surprised. Many of them are competitive in pricing compared to the National Franchise businesses, not to mention that living and working here, if you are looking at services, then they know this local marketplace better than any off-coast company.

I am not advocating that every company here on the coast is better than one off-coast. We know for a fact there are a number in our industry still using the dodgy 'hits' term as a website popularity indicator (I swear if I hear that word 'hits' one more time and it is not in relation to a youtube video I will scream), and I am sure there are some other industries here where there are also rogue operators that are not complying with 'standards', it is an unfortunate state of affairs, though happens all over the country and the world, and I do not think we on the Coast would have a higher percentage of these than any other area? In general though, we have some pretty good companies based here, and it is time for locals to have another look at them!

If we want jobs for our kids in the future, steady employment now, and the services & infrastructure that our region's size now deserves, we need to ensure that we support our local economy. Too many people who have been on the Coast for decades still seem to think that they can't rely on a local business or service as the person may not turn up because they are surfing UGH! OR alternatively with all the new people moving here, they tend to still use the services and business they used to use where they came from in Melbourne or Sydney when they set up their business here. Hello? If you are setting up a business here and expect locals to buy your product or service, don't you think you better support the local businesses here too?

Sometimes due to a specific need you have to go off-coast, but, due to the massive increase in population in recent years here, you might be surprised to find that the service you used to require from Brisbane or Sydney, can now be accessed here on the Coast. So take another look, in 2009, support local, and support our future here!

cheers
Noely
Community Co-ordinator

Permanent Link: This is 2009, not 1950!
Publish Date: 20 Feb 09