Juka has come up with a very promising initiative for buying local products instead of imported goods called Going Local. There are so many reasons why you should be buying more domestic products and services than imported ones.
- It is more environmentally friendly because less transportation of the goods are needed which creates a smaller carbon footprint. You might not care about global warming today, but you will care when you can’t breath.
- Local businesses produce more income, jobs, and tax money for our community.
- In turn, the quality of living increases and societal vices like unemployment and crime decrease.
- Creates a sense of patriotic pride.
- Improves the quality of domestic products, because if more people were buying it, companies will have more money to use in production.
- Buying one product helps other supporting industries like packaging, banking, advertising and transportation.
- It makes Egypt more self reliant.
If going completely domestic is scary for you, try it in smaller steps.
- Try eating out in only Egyptian chains. Why do you want to help the big franchises when we have really cool Egyptian food outlets?
- Test products, you might be surprised that the quality is quite good.
- If you see something you don’t like, call customer service. If you insist and persist, the company might just change something, after all they really want loyal paying customers.
- Get the word out. You might not be able to switch to domestic only products but if enough people change to some domestically manufactured products, the factories will notice a difference. There is strength in numbers.
- Take pride in what you do for a living. Whatever you do, it is a domestic product or service.
- Understand and accept that change takes time.
- Compromise a little bit in the quality of your life for the greater good of life. Giving back to ourselves is the best gift ever. Consider it a selfish selfless act.
