Every business in the Coromandel tells locals to “support local.” We put it on posters, in ads, on social media, and in shop windows. But here’s the truth most won’t say out loud:
A lot of local businesses expect loyalty from the community while sending their own purchasing dollars straight out of the region. You can’t build a strong local economy on one way loyalty.
The wider Coromandel relies on seasonal visitors, but its locals who keep the lights on through winter – so the lights can be on in summer. Yet many businesses still buy their stock, materials, and services from Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, or further afield, often without even checking whether a local supplier can match the price.
And here’s the uncomfortable reality: sometimes it is price competitive to buy local. However, purchasing decisions are often driven by habit, not value.
Supply chains exist that haven’t been reviewed in years. Defaulting to the same distributors happens because it’s familiar. Procurement is on autopilot. Some out-of-region suppliers employ slick sales techniques and pricing options that are designed to deceive along with questionable pressure tactics. You can resist these tactics and see through the corporate speak.
Before placing that next order with an out of region supplier, ask yourself two questions:
Does that supplier ever buy from your business – if ever?
Is saving a dollar today, worth costing your community far more tomorrow?
Every dollar spent outside the Coromandel is a dollar that doesn’t circulate through local wages, local services, or local investment. Economists call it “leakage.” In a small region like ours, it’s not leakage – it’s a drain plug pulled out of the bathtub and we all feel it every winter.
This isn’t about blame. It’s about responsibility. Local suppliers offer advantages big distributors simply can’t.
- Faster turnaround
- Real accountability
- Local knowledge and flexibility
- Emergency support when things go wrong
- A genuine stake in the community’s wellbeing
These aren’t “nice to haves.” They’re competitive advantages that strengthen your business and the region at the same time. If we want a resilient Coromandel economy, the shift has to start with business owners – not with slogans, not with posters, not with campaigns; but with procurement; with purchasing; with actual decisions.
When local businesses choose local suppliers, the benefits are immediate: stronger margins, faster service, more stable year round employment, and a region less vulnerable to seasonal swings. The “buy local” message is powerful – but it’s meaningless if we only expect customers to follow it. If we want locals to support local businesses, then local businesses must support local suppliers.
It’s time for the Coromandel business community to stop preaching “buy local” and start practising it – year round.
Supplied by a local business who asked for confidentiality
