Consumers fed up with high grocery store prices are taking part in boycotts to protest big box stores and large grocery chains.Small businesses are taking advantage of the ‘Buy local’ push.”A lot of people want to come to us and help support the small business first of all,” said Lisa Honick, a store owner. “But now, we are trying to bring in other things that people want, that they don’t want to stop at other stores for.”The Gourmet Girls store in Pikesville is trying to accommodate protest shoppers to turn them into permanent customers.”We have some produce and deli meats, convenience items, and we’re hearing from people and we’re trying to fill that,” Honick said.Consumers are rejecting large chains and big box stores for several reasons. Many have cut their DEI programs while others continue to charge high prices on things like eggs and milk.”I know somebody who tore up their Target card and joined Costco — and is supporting independent businesses,” said Gary Hein, a store manager.Santoni’s Marketplace in Glyndon said that sentiment is helping them as an independent business.”Greater traffic, better customer acceptance,” Hein said. “We are promoting aggressively to try to attract those customers. There are things they could buy elsewhere, but they are choosing to buy here.””We like to shop local to support the local small business,” said shopper Kathleen Burnham. “And, if we can’t get everything we need, then we go to the bigger stores. But we go local first.”Some experts said the economic blackout will likely make a dent in daily retail sales but won’t be sustainable — and some shoppers agree.”The larger stores have more to offer. I like to shop local, which I’m doing now, but I don’t think that’s going to work,” said Vicki Almond, a shopper.
Consumers fed up with high grocery store prices are taking part in boycotts to protest big box stores and large grocery chains.
Small businesses are taking advantage of the ‘Buy local’ push.
“A lot of people want to come to us and help support the small business first of all,” said Lisa Honick, a store owner. “But now, we are trying to bring in other things that people want, that they don’t want to stop at other stores for.”
The Gourmet Girls store in Pikesville is trying to accommodate protest shoppers to turn them into permanent customers.
“We have some produce and deli meats, convenience items, and we’re hearing from people and we’re trying to fill that,” Honick said.
Consumers are rejecting large chains and big box stores for several reasons. Many have cut their DEI programs while others continue to charge high prices on things like eggs and milk.
“I know somebody who tore up their Target card and joined Costco — and is supporting independent businesses,” said Gary Hein, a store manager.
Santoni’s Marketplace in Glyndon said that sentiment is helping them as an independent business.
“Greater traffic, better customer acceptance,” Hein said. “We are promoting aggressively to try to attract those customers. There are things they could buy elsewhere, but they are choosing to buy here.”
“We like to shop local to support the local small business,” said shopper Kathleen Burnham. “And, if we can’t get everything we need, then we go to the bigger stores. But we go local first.”
Some experts said the economic blackout will likely make a dent in daily retail sales but won’t be sustainable — and some shoppers agree.
“The larger stores have more to offer. I like to shop local, which I’m doing now, but I don’t think that’s going to work,” said Vicki Almond, a shopper.
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