Trials and Error

Butcher's Bunches Preserves & Shepherd's Chevre (Photo: Tenatious Lens Photography, SLC, UT)

As a small business owner I face many challenges every day.  Often I wonder why I have chosen to operate a small business in a constantly declining economy where the larger, big box,  "Corporate-America" retailers are out there, literally guzzling the dollars out of small businesses every day.  Many of these corporations are blatently obvious with their community destroying practices, such as WalMart, Sam's Club, Winco, Big Lots, Family Dollar, etc.  These stores import a majority of their products sold from outside of the United States, leaving the small business owner in the dust, literally.


According to Wikipedia "Corporate America is an informal phrase describing the world of corporations and big business within the United States not under government ownership." 

They define the major criticism of big business by stating; "The social consequences of the concentration of economic power in the hands of those persons controlling "big business" has been a constant concern both of economists and of politicians since the end of the 19th century. Various attempts have been made to investigate the effects of "bigness" upon labor, consumers and investors, as well as upon prices and competition."

Most of us have seen the effects of the big box stores on labor; sure it is wonderful that they have created thousands of jobs, but how wonderful is it that a mother or father of five can work a full time job and bring home less than $1200 a month?  How many people do you know that have basic living expenses that equate to less than $1200 a month (with a family of five?)  I suppose it is exciting that you can buy an infant an outfit for three dollars, but when you take it home your child breaks out in a rash because the regulations about what can be safely put into clothing dyes is different in China or India than in the United States?  I could go on for hours but I won't, it is like beating a dead horse.  I have something else on my mind.

Photo by Tenatious Lens Photography, SLC, UT

NOT ALL CORPORATIONS ARE SO OBVIOUS! Some make broad claims about supporting small businesses or supporting your local farmer, or even supporting products that contain only healthy ingredients in order to gain your business and mine, only to allow you to learn later that this is just an "image" that they are painting so you will choose them over another .

There are stores that claim to not allow GMO loaded foods onto their shelves.  "CLAIM"  Do you know that one leading chain has a list of ingredients that you (as a producer) can NOT use in your products--one of them being corn syrup, because it is a GMO product, but they sell corn syrup on their shelves?  Doesn't this seem a bit two-faced to you?  It is all about the dollar for a big business in the end, not about the consumer and definitely about the small producer or farmer, no matter the pitch.

How do you decide where to shop and what to buy?  Go with your heart.  I would find a local dairy, a local rancher, and a local farmer to buy from.  There are many CSA's popping up all over the country that supply fresh local produce, meats, cheeses, breads, jams, hummus, and a wild variety of locally produced goods for you to eat.  They deliver every week and it is fresh and fun.  For a great list of local CSA's here in Utah, visit the Utah's Own website. 

Don't fight it.
Pepper takes his "space."

Lately I have been sadly disappointed with grocery chains.  That has prompted my post.  I deal with one that has a beautiful cover story but their reality reads like Wall Street ticker tape-no humanity at all.  Another recently dumped multiple wonderful products (one being a HUGE local product) of late.  When we (Butcher's Bunches) went to do a product demo at this store, the manager would not even come out of his office, leaving us the choice to leave product with a service desk clerk.  Three weeks and seven phone calls later we don't even know if the buyers received our product.  Common courtesy is a thing long and often forgotten in our time-in children learning life's lessons this can be excused.  In business (big or small) there is no excuse.

Life is a learning experience.  Every week I make new mistakes and try to learn from them.  I have learned a lot during the past week.  I don't welcome the trials, but they are often predestined.