Locality at its Best

Local businesses need your support to thrive.

Time and time again we hear local businesses complaining about the lack of local support. Consumers tend to flock themselves at successful, established, foreign brands. For Malaysians too, and it is time to throw away the ‘It’s made in Malaysia, how good can it be?’ mentality. But really, how good can local products be? Why should we support it when we have popular brands that offer arguably better products and services?

Being more ‘popular’ doesn’t necessarily mean that it is ‘better’. Or at least, that can be said about software. Don’t forget that purchasing from these prominent foreign brands also means forking out more money from your pocket. There are indeed many benefits that you can reap when you support local businesses. A very good deciding factor is the distance. Let’s be real, whenever we need help, we almost always need it immediately or as soon as possible. When you’re buying a product or service from a local business, you do not need to wait for a certain period of time to get the needed aid from them.

For such a country with strong cultures, it is undeniable for it to play a part in business as well. Malaysians love all things that come with discounts, promotions or free gifts and where else will you get all these other than our beloved country? Trust me, I witnessed with both my eyes when my friend was on the receiving end of a deadpanned look and raised eyebrows when she tried her bargaining skills that usually works perfectly well, in a foreign country. Whereas in Malaysia, some kind bosses will give you a discount even before you open your mouth for negotiation.

When you’re supporting local businesses, you’re creating a connection. You know the person behind the business personally and the familiarity between each other grows. The benefits of supporting local businesses regularly are beyond just convenience and bargains. It includes a better and personalised level of service that you will definitely not get from big, foreign brands. Being familiar with each other means they already know what you want and how you want it. That will let them tailor their service specifically for you just so you can have a better experience.

Most importantly, keep in mind that when you’re buying from local businesses, you’re actually supporting your local economy by creating a healthy, innovative competition between the businesses. Who knows, that may be one of the master keys to stronger Ringgits as well. A local company can help and understand you better, therefore, they can offer your preferred products and services, dare I say, better than foreign companies do. With that said, if you’re still not supporting local businesses yet, you really should. Be a proud Malaysian that supports Malaysian businesses and be a part of the community that helps to create a positive ripple effect for a greater Malaysia.